Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 1/3

2025 Top Pick Stats: 394/1144 (-$414.50)

Best Bets: 49/102 ($8.70); Spot Plays: 21/102 (-$52.00)

Best Bet: BRUE HANOVER (Race 9)

Spot Play: DUSTY LANE LEVI (Race 12)

Early Pick-5: 2,3/3,8/5,6/9,10/5,10 $6.40

Middle Pick-5: 3/4,5/5,9,10/5/2,7 $2.40

Late Pick-5: 5,9,10/5/2,7/4,5,7/2 $3.60

Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. AE: 4 YO N/A $770 P/S IN 2025.

(2) LOU KNOWS has given nothing but good miles in his five career starts. I would expect him to show more tonight if he can sit closer to the leaders. (3) LATE FOR COFFEE has enough gate speed to get into a stalking spot, or even be the one cutting the mile. He can hang on for a big piece. (9) TONINO got away closer last week and sprinted home well. He has a big burst to him, but needs to navigate the outside post.

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Race 2: NW $7,300 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,690 P/S IN 2025. AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS LAST 3 STARTS.

(8) MAJOR PERRY N was an excellent second in his first start from down under. He navigated very well between horses and nearly pulled off the upset at a number he never should have been. That price is gone now. (3) WALLACE HARTLEY drops a notch in class and finds a spot where he could sit a perfect pocket trip. He can be lethal off a helmet. (7) P L OZZY might beat that rival to the punch if he wants to fire his fastball. He went down the road two starts ago after setting blistering fractions.

Race 3: FILLIES & MARES, NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $19,750 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $120,000 LIFETIME.

This looks like a “get right” spot for (6) TELLS ON A ROLL who has been riddled with tough trips to close out the year. She is much better when stalking from up close. I can’t tell if last week helped tighten (5) CAVIAR N CRACKERS, but she certainly could be in for a blast and last trip if that is the case. She hasn’t won in a minute. (1) SHES GOT IT ALL raced well from the high draw last week and only came up about a length short. I can see her getting a similar trip tonight and getting a piece.

Race 4: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER NW 2 RACES OR $15,000 (ON SIRED $25,500) LIFETIME.

(10) BOOKER SEELSTER looked much better last week and pulled away to an open length win. I’ll give him the nod to repeat from the high draw. (9) CALYPSO CREEK made a strong move to get into contention, and was able to sustain that move all the way to the wire in what was a quick race. He is another who will have to navigate an outside draw. (2) GANSBAAI is a logical contender for the underneath spots basically every week. He likes to pass a couple horses late in the mile and continue to earn while continuing to not break his maiden.

Race 5: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $65,000 IN 2025 (MIN 20 STARTS).

I trusted the final quarter from (10) UNCLE SHANK A more than others after watching them again last week. He was sprinting well against some very classy types. J-Mac gives him the nod for another potential down the road effort. I will say, (5) LOUS WORLD has looked mighty different since adding Lasix, but I’m still not sure I want to pull the trigger on him up top. Second it is. (9) WANNABEABIGSTAR got another tightener last week from a bad post. Something has to give at some point. His familiar pilot sticks; I’ll use him underneath.

Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. AE: 4 YO N/A $770 P/S IN 2025.

(3) THE FEAST raced well in his first trip around the Mohawk oval. It was a perfect effort that he should improve off of. He is extremely logical if he steps forward. (5) CLAYMORE was left chasing as the big favorite, Booker Seelster, paced away. If he shows gate speed again, he can stalk and get a big piece. (1) DANCININTHEDARK took a decent step forward in his second morning prep off the bench. Dancin Lou's offspring did okay in Canada in 2025. This one can step forward tonight and find his way onto the ticket.

Race 7: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $33,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $110,000 LIFETIME.

(4) DUBLIN DASHER could end up as the third choice in this spot, which seems ridiculous for a horse with as much punch as he has on both ends of the mile. I’ll give him the nod this week in a good field. (5) MIRACULOUS DESBI N appeared to have things going all his way when he latched onto decent cover and was spotted second over. He raced well, but couldn’t hold off a big longshot between horses. His price will stay short with J-Mac. (1) COLD CREEK QUESO sprinted home again last week and pulled out another strong finish. The tote board is likely to tell us a lot about his chances.

Race 8: FILLIES & MARES, NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $14,000 LAST 8 STARTS (W/O $15,500 LAST 8 STARTS N/E) AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000.

(5) BLINDED BY DELIGHT looks like a value player in this spot, where she adds Lasix for the first time. She could be in for a speed try tonight if ready to roll. (9) SANTAFES APPETITE has found new life with the front-end style that she has used in recent weeks. I would expect her to be forwardly placed again, despite the outside draw. (10) WESTERN WISH is classy enough to get the job done when dropping in class. She hasn’t been at her best, but this could be another “get right” spot for a nice horse.

Race 9: OPEN.

(5) BRUE HANOVER came up short against Taurasi in the last Open, but that was from post nine. I’ll give him the nod this time around. (6) TAURASI has found top form again after a little bit of time off. He should be on the move again and in a perfect spot to keep his top form going. (2) REMEMBER THE ALAMO was the de facto Open king in early autumn, but Taurasi has dethroned him for that title as of late. He is likely to be sitting right in front or right behind the top two.

Race 10: NW $7,300 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,690 P/S IN 2025. AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS LAST 3 STARTS.

(7) SERGEANT SLAUGHTER used some gate speed last week, and it nearly got him into a winning position. He took a shuffle down the backstretch, and had to wait for room between horses. If he uses gate speed again, I can see him pulling off the upset. (2) LAMANDIER A is obvious after he took a step forward in his second start from down under. He debuts for a new barn tonight and should take a lot of support. (1) SNACK ATTACK has not been at his best in recent weeks, but some slack should be cut for last week’s two move effort from a bad post. He can sit an inside trip and get a piece.

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Race 11: FILLIES & MARES, NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $36,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $120,000 IN 2025.

(5) SO MUCH MORE was good last week when dropping from the Open, and put herself in great position to try and win. She should have every chance if J-Mac puts her forward. (7) MS QUICK SAND held her own when stepping up to this level last week. She may not get the best of trips again, but if she has to work from the back and finds a live helmet, she could add some value to the exotics. (4) GLENBORO could be the horse who trips out if she beats everyone else to the punch with her gate speed that she has. The first quarter in this race will be even more important than usual.

Race 12: NW 3 RACES OR $66,000 LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $60,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE.

(2) DUSTY LANE LEVI just missed in the sprint home after Blue Bar got ridiculously cheap fractions. J-Mac sticks; I’ll give him another chance. (3) BLUE BAR was basically given the win last week and still almost lost. He has enough gate speed to get in position again, but I think he is susceptible. (6) ERINWOOD BIG MACK put it all together last week and got the job done. He could end up being first over in this spot and setting up other closers.