Top Pick Stats: 373/1087 (-$405.00) Best Bets: 47/97 ($8.20) Spot Plays: 19/97 (-$55.60) Best Bet: JJ XAVIER (Race 4) Spot Play: AVYANNA (Race 12) Early Pick-5: 1,4,6/4,6,7/1,9/1/3,10   $7.20 Middle Pick-5: 2,3/1,8/3,6,7/5,6,8/7   $7.20 Late Pick-5: 3,6,7/5,6,8/7/2,10/6   $3.60 Race 1: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $11,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES - $75K GTD Pick 5 (1) THE FEAST looks like a horse that could be okay, despite that line from August in PA. His first trip around the Mohawk oval for the new connections was a resounding success. His dam was a stakes filly at two at Mohawk. Perhaps this offspring could have a similar path. (4) LOU KNOWS has given nothing but good miles in his four career starts. I would expect him to show more speed around the bigger track tonight. Very logical in this spot. (6) TONINO made a big move to get himself into contention, but ultimately had to settle for a check. He has a big burst to him, but it needs to be timed right. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $31,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME (7) MOVING ON OVER bailed his backers out with a sharp back half to pass many horses and get up for the win. The problem is, he is hard to look past against a group like this, but he’s going to be a short price again. (6) GANSBAAI loves to grind into contention, and is frequently a reliable horse to land somewhere on the ticket. He should be in position to pass cheap speed types and add some value. (4) ERINWOOD BIG MACK made an extended outside move last week and even stuck his nose in front for a brief moment before having to settle for second. His problem lately has been minding his manners. Race 3: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $11,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES (1) BOOKER SEELSTER stepped forward in a big way last week when getting a key driver change. Even though he got tracked down, he raced well, and should be heavily considered. (9) DEAL SPEED has put together three strong efforts since taking some time off. He will have to navigate the high draw, but if he can work off a helmet, I like his chances as well. (6) ALLSTAR CHEEZ IT has shown pop on the end of his last two miles and should be able to pass horses if he can sustain that move. I will use him underneath tonight. Race 4: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5000 LAST 8 STARTS (1) JJ XAVIER has been holding his own against top class comany at Rideau. Last week, he was up against a group that was just too tough, and he was involved in a fast pace. Leading driver James Macdonald picks up the lines on a horse who hasn’t done much wrong this year. (4) ELLIOT MOOSE hasn’t gotten the best of trips against tougher competition, but he has enough gate speed to get him in contention if he wants to use it. (3) MONTANA SLIM had no chance last week from the high draw. His first effort around the Mohawk oval saw him show late pop with potential for improvement. The post relief should help massively. Race 5: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000 (3) HF PANS SHADOW has been razor sharp as of late and has stepped up to this level successfully as proven by his last two races. He is a main danger in this race and should be respected. (10) WANNABEABIGSTAR looked stale last week, but that was against some very good horses. His familiar pilot gets back in the bike tonight. I’ll look for a rebound effort. (5) KYLES ART was a horse I took way too big of a swing with in his second start back. I’ll still use him, but underneath. Race 6: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $60,000 IN 2025 (2) A CLASS YANKEE has the ability to consistently win at upper levels in my opinion, but he’s never going to do it when racing from off the pace every week. If he gets outsprinted early, which could happen, I don’t like his chances as much. I’m leaning inside with my selections for this race. (3) CAPTAIN FEAR NOT made a long, sustained grind on cover to get into the race, and ended up a fine fourth. He is likely the more logical type on paper, dropping in class again and actually showing gate speed from time to time. (4) P L OZZY fired his fastball last week and just barely held on. He showed that he is still capable of efforts like that as his seven year old season comes to an end. I’ll use him underneath on the step up in class. Race 7: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW $15,000 (ON SIRED $23,750) LIFETIME (1) BAJAN FIREFLY got a perfect second over trip last week into what turned into a hot pace. He was still moving well in the stretch and got the job done. I’ll give him the nod to repeat. (8) LIQUOR TALKIN took a big step forward on the big track and followed Bajan Firefly into the race. He should be able to make his style work again this week; I’ll give him a chance to get a big piece. (9) CHEF made multiple moves in what was just his third start of the year. It was a quick mile, much quicker than I anticipated them going, and he held on for a solid third place finish. J-Mac may not have a choice from the high draw, but can he hang on? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 8: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $34,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $100,000 LIFETIME (6) COLD CREEK QUESO can pop at these upper levels if he gets the right trip. I’ll count on this week belonging to him in what is a competitive group. (7) DUBLIN DASHER couldn’t quite hold on after a speed try. His last two efforts have been much better against these types of horses. (3) BRUNO NO NO NO won’t be a sleeper at this class for much longer once more people start to realize that he has the speed and pop to go just as fast as these proven types. He shouldn’t get away as far back this week. Race 9: NW $6,100 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $14,750 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,930 P/S IN 2024-25 (6) SERGEANT SLAUGHTER has had no chance in his last two after getting away basically last in both starts. He can be good for an off the pace score every once in a while, but he also has some gate speed that needs to be used if he wants to pull off the upset. (8) SAUBLE ACE got the nod from McClure and has a nice grinding style that suits the driver well. I can see him getting involved and being in contention. (5) BRONX DRIFTER set a new lifetime mark last week with his two length win. He could easily be the first to the lead, and could get a lot of respect. Race 10: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $50,000 (OS $85,000) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $60,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE (7) BLUE BAR is the fastest horse in this race, and is the one I’ll be giving the nod to, but be wary of his short price and 1-for-26 record this season. (6) STATE ONE SMILEY comes off a sweep of the latest Pop-Up Series and has some very sharp speed in the first eighth of the mile. That should get him in position to stalk the leader. (1) COALFORD TOPGUY GB was a horse I tried last week, and he grinded nicely into contention, but I thought he hung just a bit in the final eighth. I’ll use him underneath tonight. Race 11: NW $6,100 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $14,750 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,930 P/S IN 2024-25 (10) MAJOR PERRY N is another Australian shipper who has been pacing some big miles. He was a sharp winner in his morning prep; I’ll give him the nod to navigate the high draw. (2) LAMANDIER A didn’t get the best trip in his first start away from down under. He got around the track fine in my opinion; I’ll give him another chance to get a big piece. (1) GINGER TREE FINNY comes out of that aforementioned Pop-Up Series that State One Smiley was in. He looked extremely sharp in that series with J-Mac in the bike, and he pilots again tonight. Race 12: FILLIES & MARES, NW $15,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $30,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $120,000 IN 2025 - $199K C/O Hi-5 (6) AVYANNA has not gotten winning trips at the Open level. Borth could finally be aggressive with this mare on the drop in class in this expanded finale group. (5) SO MUCH MORE was good last week and held off everyone except for Grit N Grace who romped. She should have every chance if J-Mac puts her forward. (2) MS QUICK SAND has looked like a new horse in the last two weeks. She was aggressively handled again as the odds on favorite and cruised to victory. She is a logical use anywhere on the ticket in this mandatory payout Jackpot Hi-5 race.