Top Pick Stats: 76/244 (-$112.00) Best Bets: 7/22 (-$16.40); Spot Plays: 10/23 ($11.60) Best Bet: PACINO HANOVER (Race 2) Spot Play: ASIAGO SEELSTER (Race 8) Early Pick-5: 5,7,9/2/1,3,5/8/4,5,6   $5.40 Late Pick-5: 3,10/5,7/3/6,7/1,4,7   $4.80 Race 1: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,310 P/S IN 2025-2026 (MIN 25 STARTS). AE: NW $16,000 IN 2025-2026. (9) LEGION SEELSTER gets my tepid top nod in what I think is a wide open race. His grinding ability should allow him to work into contention if he floats out early. (7) MONTANA SLIM has to be respected off the strength of last week’s first over blitz. He will get his picture taken here eventually. (5) HOWMAC VICTOR gets a drop in class, but his form hasn’t been any better since being claimed three back. He can get a piece underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $34,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $100,000 LIFETIME. AE: NW $75,000 IN 2025-26. (2) PACINO HANOVER is in a perfect spot to do some serious damage off the drop in class. He was very good three back when he paced away from his rivals in the late stages. (5) JORDY N put it all together last week and hasn’t done much wrong since shipping from down under. His versatility makes him a real threat. (7) WHATCHULOOKIN AT hasn’t quite sold me yet, but last week was a perfect type of trip for him. He was able to be patiently handled and explode in the lane. I’m not sure he’ll get that luxury this time. Race 3: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (1) LIQUID was handled conservatively in his career debut, but ran into some traffic trouble at the top of the stretch and had to duck inside. I thought he finished up well, all things considered. I was extremely torn on (3) SAUBLE AMBUSH. His qualifier was solid enough behind Bettorthingsahead who won on debut, but he was a weather scratch the week after and hasn’t been seen for three more weeks. A patient drive seems likely, but he is a major unknown. (5) MY LEADING MAN looked solid when closing down the center of the track in his return qualifier. He appears to have upside, and that is further cemented by J-Mac giving him the nod. Race 4: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER NW 2 RACES OR $15,000 (ON SIRED $24,500) LIFETIME. (8) HIRO HANOVER was a geared down winner last week as the odds on favorite. He minded his manners and looked very good. I’ll give him the call to repeat. (7) TWIN B ALLIANCE has been right there in all of his starts this year. His late kick always gives him a chance to get a piece. (9) RUN TO THE HILLS made his presence felt after his qualifier, but was a major disappointment in his only try in the Snowshoe series. He has been off for a few weeks and now has to navigate the high draw. Race 5: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $50,000 (OS $62,500) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $60,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (6) LIKE A KING comes off two strong efforts at The Meadowlands and now makes his Merner barn debut from the winningest post. He has been off for nearly a month, but I expect him to be ready to roll. (4) RBSTENACIOUS T has won four in a row and most recently comes off a Snowshoe sweep. He makes the class jump to NW3; I think he can continue his sharp streak. (5) DOCS EARNEST has been much better in his last two starts. If he finds a live helmet, I would expect him to do well again. Race 6: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS AE: NW $8,000 IN 2026 (MIN 4 STARTS). (3) LINCOLN LA MOOSE N has produced two strong qualifiers in his first couple of trips around the Mohawk oval. This New Zealand shipper adds Lasix for his debut. I give him a big chance. (10) ROCHESTER FLASH gets a drop in class for his second start back. He was a step short last week, and now has to navigate the high draw, but we know what he is capable of when he is at his best. (1) CENTURY INSPECTOR should be able to get away in decent order from the rail. The gate speed has allowed him to get pieces in recent weeks. Race 7: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (7) MAKORORI N is another New Zealand shipper who is debuting for the Court barn, but he looked even better in his qualifiers. I expect him to do extremely well here. (5) ALWAYS TOOHOT flashed potential right away when qualifying last year, but a lone try in the Tompkins-Geers was all the action he saw at two. He returned with an equally good qualifier last week and now picks up the leading driver. (3) SAULSBROOK RODEO managed to get a check last week with an off the pace trip. I can see a similar drive and result tonight. Race 8: NW $1,000 LAST 4 STARTS. AE: N/A $800 P/S IN 2025-26 (MIN 10 STARTS). (3) ASIAGO SEELSTER had some pace left in the stretch after leaving out from the high draw and then getting shuffled. He draws better tonight and should be live with the right trip. (6) CALL ME IT was unable to build on his second place finish from two back due to a weather scratch. If he shows gate speed again, he should stalk and get a good piece. (4) HARRY G tends to show a bit of late pace when racing at the bottom level. Look for J-Mac to be patient and look for something to open up late. Race 9: OPEN. (7) ITS SATURDAY NIGHT finally got a race to go his way last week and capitalized after a perfect trip. Look for him to blast off the car again. I’ll give him the repeat nod. (6) DUBLIN DASHER has Pacino Hanover levels of late kick to him and was up against it last week after a slow middle half was set. He can easily win here with the right trip. (2) BRUE HANOVER had to settle for second after Its Saturday Night tripped out against him. He is back in sharp form right now. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: WINNERS OF 3 BUT NOT MORE THAN 6 RACES OR $80,000 (OS $100,000) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $80,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. I think (1) RIPASSO has finally found his group this week after getting a check in each of his three starts since returning. He has more raw speed than these horses, and I think he might be handled a touch more aggressively because of that. (7) BLAZING CRUISER was a sharp winner last week and finds a few familiar rivals around him. He makes a lot of sense after that win. (4) PYRENEES HANOVER has been holding his own against conditioned company at The Meadows. I think this is a lateral move, if not a little tougher. I think he gets a piece. Race 11: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: N/A $1,800 P/S IN 2025-2026. **JACKPOT HI-5 MANDATORY PAYOUT** (3) SOMETIME SOMEWHERE tried the lead last week as the favorite, but that’s not his game. I think he has a chance to rebound if a live helmet can be found, and his price could be inflated this week. (6) HF PANS SHADOW continues to be right there at the wire, but is taking too much money for me to want to chase him on top. I think he will grind out another good finish. (7) STONEBRIDGE HELIOS got picked off in the late stages after looking like a winner at the top of the stretch. He could be a threat to wire them, but I’m not quite sold. (1) HONOLULU VACATION tried an off the pace trip in the Pop-Up Final and it worked swimmingly for him. This is a step up in class, but the versatility can make him a factor anywhere on the ticket. (11) EARLY ACTION was a good second last week when following the winner from the pocket throughout the mile. I can see him getting a trip along the inside and finding his way onto this mandatory payout Hi-5.