Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 1/8

Meet Stats: 8 - 21 / $49.90 (+$7.90)

Best Bets: 1 - 2 / $2.70 (-$1.30)

Spot Plays: 1 - 2 / $15.80 (+$11.80)

Best Bet: WHEELS ON FIRE (2ND)

Spot Play: STORMONT BARBEQUE (3RD)

Early Pick 5: 3,4,5/2/1,7/ALL/2,5,6 = $32.40

Late Pick 5: 1,6/3,5/2,3/5,6,7/3,4,7 = $14.40

Early Pick 4: ALL/2,5,6/1,6/5 = $54

Late Pick 4: 3,5/2,3/5,6,7/3,4,7 = $36

Race 1: 5YO and Younger NW3 or $36,000 LT AEL 4YO to be claimed for $25,000 **Guaranteed $100,000 Pick 5**

(3) KOUNT BLASTER finished 4th in every leg of the Valedictory series chasing iron-tough Century Hannibal each week. This should be an easier assignment tonight and he gets the nod. (5) TEXAS MIKI excels when he can control the pace and he should be on the engine again tonight; using. (4) RICOTTABKIDDINME caught fire in the Pop Up series and he looked good in both wins. He isn't impossible in this spot. Quirky (1) HIPPYJOHN showed absolutely nothing last week when he was fancied by many. He is capable, but who knows which version of him will show up? Your call.

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Race 2: PREFERRED

(2) WHEELS ON FIRE was forced to sit out a week when this class wasn't carded, but he is still king of this hill more often than not and he is the one to beat tonight. (6) SO MUCH MORE comes to play every week and the short field helps her; using. (3) UHTRED might sit in the choice's pocket tonight so that gives him a puncher's chance. He could be the value in this race. (5) BEYOND BETTER jumped it off as the 1 to 2 chalk last week. He will be looking for a clean line here and likely close mildly for a share.

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Race 3: NW3 (F&M5) or $40,000 (F&M $50,000) AE: 4YO who are NW $4,000 L3

(1) STORMONT BARBEQUE raced great last week considering she missed close to three weeks. She gets the nod vs. these tonight. (7) MYSTIC drops and comes back in five days after missing more than a month prior to last week's even effort vs. better. He is hard to leave out of the early Pick 5. (3) HARRY was better last week when he finished behind the choice and he draws better here; using underneath. (6) H P RUNNING MASS should pass a few of these and land in the Tri or Super.

Race 4: NW $5,500 L5 or $12,000 L10 - Pick 4

Tough race here with several viable options. It could be argued that (3) LOU ED ZEPPELIN has had excuses in all of his past three starts. He is due for some better luck and he should offer a square price. I'll take a swing here. (4) BEACHIN LINDY stayed sharp racing against better and he should contend here on the drop; using. (1) JM JACK OF HEARTS has upset potential here getting class and post relief; using. (8) GRAND POOBAH is another that is worth a look in a race where it makes sense to go deep on multi-race tickets.

Race 5: New Year Claiming Series 2nd Leg

(5) MAYHEM LIKE ME qualified well for his first start for Auciello. Maybe he has him figured out; slight nod. (2) SARATOGA BLUE CHIP looked good winning the opening leg of this series and he figures to be right there again tonight. (6) P L OLIVER gets a driver change to Henry for this and he missed the opening leg. He should get put into this race leaving the gate and he is another with a decent chance. (11) MUSTANG BEACH is obviously one of the best ones in here but I don't like his post here. I'll tab him for next week.

Race 6: 5YO and Younger NW 6 or $80,000 (Ont. Sired $100,000) LT - Pick 5

(1) MAPPOS LION beat a decent field on New Year's Day and he gets the call to repeat tonight. (6) STONEBRIDGE REX is capable of better and he should get put into action early tonight on the class drop. He is a threat to lead all the way. (5) THATLL BE SPORTY responded to the class drop and driver change last week and he should be in the hunt again this week. (4) KISSINBYTHEBEACHES is in the exotics mix every week. He should be part of the Tri or Super again here.

Race 7: NW $8,000 L5 or $20,100 L10 - Pick 4

(5) TRACEUR HANOVER won several races on the class drop in the past couple of years and he should set up shop on the lead early in this mile tonight; top call. (3) RAYS KREDIT was an easy winner in his first start out of the Auciello barn and Macdonald sticks here. He should be a threat right back despite the step up in class. (4) NIGHT WATCHMAN followed cover last week, chasing a big class dropper that was never going to be beat. That was a decent effort and he can take another share here. (8) REVOLT drops but he got no favors at the post draw; using underneath.

Race 8: NW $19,500 L5 or $26,000 L10 or NW $155,000 LT AE: NW1 in 2021

(3) JIMMY FREIGHT's second start wasn't as good as his comeback effort, but he gets to drop into a more comfortable spot tonight and he might beat these on memory; top call. (2) WIND BLOWN is the other class dropper and he should be prominent throughout; using. (5) WOODMERE STEALDEAL has responded well to facing tougher since shipping west and he should be in the exotics mix again. (6) SWEET DEISEL steps back up after re-rallying to beat easier. He can close to round out the Tri or Super.

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Race 9: NW $12,800 L5 or $26,200 L10 AE: Pop Up Starters who are NW $30,000 L10

(5) THE GREEK FREAK has raced much better since the trainer change four starts ago and there are no Commanding Officers in here this week; top call. (7) FABRIZIO N is capable of a big speed try in this spot and I'll use him on my late multi-race tickets. (6) INTRIGUED AGAIN is possible in this spot if he is in position to strike at the head of the lane. He is another possibility for late Pick 4 and Pick 5 tickets. (1) OUTLAW ACEOFSPADES can enter contention for a slice on the class drop.

Race 10: NW $3,000 L5 or $7,000 L10

(3) ROCK N ZEUS shipped in from Ottawa, took all the action, and jogged. He looks good to repeat in this spot. Veteran (4) NICKLE BAG lands in a good spot for his return and he attracts Macdonald. He typically performs well in the winter and he is dangerous here. (7) HIGH FLYIN JAMIE should be able to set up a rally facing easier tonight and land in the bottom of the Tri or Super. (9) JTS JET is another that could wake up with a better effort facing easier tonight; using underneath. (2) VANILLA MALTED rarely misses a check. Consider him for the bottom of the High-5.