BEST BET: SWINGTOWN (11th) SPOT PLAY: MADDEN OAKS (8th) Race 1: Non-winners $12,000 in last 4 or $24,000 in last 8 or $150,000 life/Opt. $70K Clm. $100K GTD Pick 5 (1) BLUE HUNT went a huge mile two starts back but moved up in class last time and was never put in play. He’s at more of a middle ground between the two conditions now and picks up a top catch driver. He should fire out and sit close. (6) CENTURY KOMODO brushed, got away with soft fractions and sprinted home for the victory last time. Roy sticks over other good options including (7) MIRACULOUS DESBI N, who posted a very nice North American debut upon arrival from Down Under. He’s a contender here if the pace setup is good, though I don’t see a ton of early speed in here. (2) VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP almost pulled off the upset on the engine a week ago. He dropped more than a second in his second start back from a mini layoff and he’s dangerous in here. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $400K Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot Sometimes you handicap exclusively via what you see and the hard stats but (7) ELISTA HANOVER is more of a feel pick in some ways. Trainer Annie Stoebe has been excellent at aiming for a specific race and this gal seems to be a better mare when on the big track. I’m not sure if she’ll show early speed and take a more conservative approach but she can win either way. (6) WARRAWEE MICHELLE seems likely to show some early speed in this spot. She’s right there week after week. (4) M-M’S DREAM has been winding down her career in style and she’ll certainly be put in play here. Her best can certainly win. (5) DATE NIGHT HANOVER looks pretty sweet on paper but the venue change is key. Nine of her 12 career wins have come at The Red Mile. Race 3: $400K Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace - Pick 4 (1) TWIN B JOE FRESH had a little lull in her year in the middle of the summer but is back on her game now and dominating like a Horse of the Year does. It is difficult to look past her. (5) SYLVIA HANOVER could be an interesting play here if she drifts up to 5-1 or so but otherwise, play her underneath in the exacta and collect the $5 return. (2) KOBE’S GIGI should be able to sit close to the leaders and get a small piece. Race 4: $664.5K Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot – Mandatory Payout Pick 6 (4) YO TILLIE has proven to be a battler who can take some air and still win a race. To me that is the edge she has over (2) DELANEY HANOVER, who might possess those traits but hasn’t shown it yet. Yo Tillie also should offer a slightly better price than her rival. While I can’t deny that Delaney Hanover has a big win chance, she’s probably going to need some expert steering from Zeron to get the job done with plenty of early speed on the outside of the gate. I’m going to slot her in third and take a shot with (8) STORMONT BEAUTIFUL second. Daughter of Resolve displayed a new wrinkle last time by leaving strong and finishing well in-hand late to be second. I’m not necessarily expecting her to show big speed early but I do think she could be charging late in the mile at decent odds. Race 5: $600K Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace While no horse is unbeatable, (5) MIKI AND MINNIE is simply better and a bit more dynamic than these. Yes, she only won by a half-length in the elimination round, but I had no serious concern she would lose and that was her first start in more than a month. (2) UNREASONABLE was the horse that came close to the top pick last weekend and while she looms a threat, she hasn’t proven to be better than #5 this year. Her biggest win came with a great setup in the Garnsey. (6) SKYWALKER SEA stepped up very nicely to be third behind the top two in the elim and perhaps she’ll take a shot here for the lead. (9) RODEO DRIVE DEO has had her best moments on smaller tracks in 2025. That said, she is better than her recent lines would have you think. I could take a positive view on her if she gets lost in the wagering. Race 6: $600K Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Trot - $100K GTD Pick 5 It is hard to believe that (3) MARYLAND doesn’t have a win in 2025. He really hasn’t raced poorly as evidenced by his six second-place finishes, things just haven’t worked out. Last time he was stuck in the second tier, was third over and simply had too far to come despite a 26 3/5 final quarter. Here he is perfectly drawn with plenty of early speed to his outside and a potentially perfect escort in stablemate Super Chapter to provide live cover. (4) EMOTICON LEGACY is the deserving favorite and a horse that simply can’t be left off your Pick 5 tickets; he’s too sharp and should be just high enough on the toteboard to use. I’m still not convinced that (10) GO DOG GO isn’t the most talented horse in the field and from an inside post he would’ve been my top pick. Winning from the outside will be a tall task but maybe the addition of Lasix will help. (2) SUPER CHAPTER has only put in one bad effort all year but I just don’t like the way this race shapes up for him. Race 7: $600K Breeders Crown Open Trot (5) LEXUS KODY is riding a five race winning streak and it doesn’t even seem to matter what trip he gets. With Yannick Gingras in the bike, they’ve won on the lead, first over and last-to-first. It is very difficult to find a legitimate reason why he won’t win yet again. (3) FRENCH WINE pulled the hind shoes and was a very solid second behind the top pick in a two-move effort. Trainer Nancy Takter has moved this guy’s game up since taking over a few starts back, but he’ll need the top one to falter to have a serious win chance. (7) PERICULUM is an excellent horse that just seems to be a step slower than Lexus Kody right now. On top of that, he’s more trip dependent and relies on a good setup. (4) SOUTHWIND COORS has dealt with some bad luck in terms of posts and trips. He could get a piece here at a nice price. Race 8: $600K Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Pace - Pick 5 Some people will look at the mile from (1) MADDEN OAKS last week and feel it was a subpar effort, but how much can they really expect from the horse? He came the final half in an insane 51 4/5 and battled through the stretch even after coming first over. Driver Roy is going to need to find a way to keep this guy settled down, but if the pace scenario develops as expected, he’s a real contender at very nice odds. While (8) LOUPRINT is without a doubt the best horse in the race, he has been dealt an interesting hand with a ton of early speed to his inside. Wrenn is going to earn his money in the bike. The price won’t be great but I do think he can overcome a bad trip. (10) FUSION hits my top three on the possibility that this race could go down to the half in 52 and three quarters in 1:19. If that occurs he’ll be coming like a freight train from last at boxcar odds. (5) DANDY IDEAL was super in his elimination and is hard to toss off your tickets. That said, He’s going to need some luck to win this one and the odds reward won’t be high enough to back him. (6) SIPPINONSEAROC edged by my top pick after following his route in the elimination. I’ve seen worse longshot plays. (3) PRINCE HAL HANOVER has been super all year but hasn’t shown me enough versatility to back him in a race loaded with early speed. Race 9: $600K Breeders Crown Open Pace - Pick 4 (7) MAXIMUS MIKI failed on the engine last time but it was more because of strategy in my opinion than the horse not being good enough. This guy is slow to get going and Zeron elected to go an easy 28 3/5 second quarter and 27 1/5 third quarter on the front. Ken Hanover then sprinted by with a crazy 24 4/5 final quarter. If it had been the final, the pace would’ve been faster and “Ken” may not have the same late life. Tonight the trip projects to be following the cover of either (5) ERVIN HANOVER or perhaps “Ken” and the price will be right. Ervin Hanover is in crazy-good form and while his price won’t be great, he is impossible to leave off your tickets because a bad trip doesn’t bother him. (3) CAPTAIN ALBANO was used early and couldn’t get room until too late in his elimination. I see him floating away this week, letting the outside speed settle and then trying to race on the front. He’s gone some big miles before and this is probably the most important race of his career if he’s going off to stallion duty next year. (8) NIJINSKY has come back from summer break in super form and my only concern is trip from the outside post. (2) KEN HANOVER will need a great drive to negotiate a win here but he is capable. (6) COACHES CORNER has big early speed and last time he dealt with traffic. I prefer him underneath as he hasn’t been able to seal the deal in a big race on larger ovals. Race 10: $75K Free For All Pace (3) FUNTIME BAYAMA has been a tease most of the year, racing from behind and getting smaller checks. I’ve given up on him showing speed but this does seem to be a spot where there is enough pace to his outside and enough quality to his inside to set him up with a sweet trip. (7) REDWOOD HANOVER seems likely to be overlooked in the wagering but has been super since coming east for Engblom. (4) RUTHGLESS HANOVER was never put in play in the Breeders Crown and now we get a new driver tonight. Has he lost a bit off his fastball or can he speed pop this field? (2) BYTHEMISSAL has way too much of my money. Obviously he can win if he brings anything close to his best game. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 11: $50K 3-year-old Open Pace (9) SWINGTOWN was used hard in the Breeders Crown and ultimately paid the price by fading to sixth and missing the final. He’s had a bit of seconditis for months but seems to have landed in a sweet spot where a gate to wire victory is very much in play. (3) FIFTH AND FIVE has chased Crack Shot as the second best Ontario colt of late. Jamieson may put him in play this time and sit a nice pocket trip. (2) WAFFLE BLUE CHIP didn’t fire in his first try up north from a tough post versus difficult competition. Don’t give up on him too quickly. Race 12: Non-winners $9,250 in last 4 or $20,250 in last 8/Opt. $50,000 Clm. - Mandatory Payout Hi-5 (3) WHATCHULOOKIN AT was overbet in his second start back from the break in action when picking up Dunn, and while he improved a lot, wasn’t close to the top spots. That effort should do plenty to have him sharp and the drop in class tonight also helps. (1) UNCLE SHARK A is another moving down the class ladder. He’s capable of a big mile and is tough to leave off the top spot of your Hi-5 tickets. (4) JABBERWOCKY qualified great and nice to see Zeron sticks around to drive. He’s more than capable of winning if ready off the long vacation. (11) CAPTAIN FEAR NOT should be involved in the exotics if David can navigate traffic from the second tier.