Top Pick Stats: 105/369 (-$184.50) Best Bets: 12/33 (-$20.70); Spot Plays: 11/35 (-$4.40) Best Bet: SOARING NOW (Race 12) Spot Play: BOLD SPIRIT (Race 1) Early Pick-5: 5,6/5,6/6,8/5,7/3,5   $6.40 Middle Pick-5: 4,5,7/5,7/6/4,7/1,4,8   $7.20 Late Pick-5: 6,7/4,7/1,4,8/4,5/7   $4.80 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER CLAIMING HANDICAP $50,000 TO $60,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (6) BOLD SPIRIT produced a strong second place finish in what I thought was a slightly tougher group. His first few strides are as quick as anyone in this field, and that has helped him in the past. I’m quietly intrigued by these Miami Valley shippers, and that includes (5) GIGIS DREAM. He was in top form before being parked the mile in his latest, and now he debuts for a new barn. If he’s ready, he could class up to these. (1) MAGICAL BET has been in the mix with grinding trips in his last two efforts. A better setup can see him land on the ticket. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (6) P L TACO made a good account of himself in his second career start, making multiple moves en route to a good second place finish. His gate speed should give him a good spot in the early stages. Many seemed to have a wait and see approach with (5) LOUIE THE LEGEND, myself included, and he was making a good account of himself with a long first-over bid. In the stretch, a rival pulled in front of him and caused him to go offstride, but I couldn’t tell just how much pace he had left. (1) TEN CARAT GARRETT has been in the mix in recent weeks, and the short field gives him an advantage, given his recent sharp final quarters. Race 3: CLAIMING HANDICAP $18,000 TO $24,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (8) EXOTIC SAND has put together two good looking wins with vastly different trips. He races off the claim from the high draw and should have enough speed to get him in contention. (6) BUDDYVILLE outraced his odds last week, and has a sneaky chance to pop at a price. Plante has been patient, but his moves can be sustained. (7) SHOW STOP had to be taken way wide around the final turn after Seriously Hanover broke in front of him. His kick could allow him to pull off a big mile from the back. Race 4: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW 7 RACES LIFETIME.  AE: NW $32,500 IN 2026 (MIN 7 STARTS) (7) GINGER TREE FINNY has been holding his own against tougher company, and took advantage of a drop and pop last week. It wouldn’t surprise me if he came right back tonight. (5) MAJOR PERRY N gets a sharp drop from the Open level and draws a good post. He is extremely logical in this spot and should get a good trip. (3) MIRACULOUS DESBI N has been a bit tough to read at the upper levels, but the speed is there if he can work out a trip. Post relief helps. Race 5: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER NW 2 RACES OR $15,000 (ON SIRED $21,750) LIFETIME. (3) COUNT ON GORD produced his best mile last week when stepping up to this level. His gate speed makes him dangerous again. (5) JIMS FIRST DATE has the speed to be a contender here, but he has been his own worst enemy in recent efforts. I think he can surprise in his return to the big track, IF he minds his manners. (2) HIRO HANOVER got a trip around the track last week from the high draw. He gets major post relief tonight and can rebound for a piece. Race 6: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (5) SOLIDARITY makes his return to action after two good looking qualifiers. I’ll count on him being good to go right away against this bunch. (4) MY LEADING MAN was placed back to ninth for interference, but I thought he raced well in that effort. He made an initial move from an outside draw, and showed some pace in the lane. (7) PANIC RAY showed some pop in the stretch in a successful first try around the Mohawk oval. He should be passing horses late again. Race 7: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 (OS 5)  RACES OR $62,500 LIFETIME. (5) MAJOR THREAT was the rival who beat Makorori, and he draws a better post than his main rival. I’m curious how much support he takes. (7) ZEBS KRAFTY got a good trip last week, but I thought he should have shown a touch more given that fact. However, he debuts for the Merner barn tonight and picks up Doug McNair… A speed try and down the road score could be coming, but it will be as an underlay. (9) MAKORORI N tried to battle back in the stretch in what became a back half sprint, but couldn’t fend off the challenge from Major Threat. If he doesn’t burn himself out too much from this outside draw, he should be right there again. Race 8: CLAIMING HANDICAP $12,000 TO $16,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (6) ALWAYS B SWEETEST races off the claim after earning another win last week. He is now batting at 75 percent this season, which is a ridiculous clip. His rivals will have to catch him again. (7) REMEMBER THE BEACH was a good second to Always B Sweetest last week. He has enough gate speed for me to think he could work out a pocket trip. (2) FOREFATHER made a nice rally to get a check last week and finds himself in a shorter field. He can pass a couple horses late and get a piece. Race 9: OPEN 2. (4) BRUNO NO NO NO makes his much anticipated four year old debut, only this time it comes for a new barn. He was excellent in his lone morning prep, and I think he will slot right back into the upper echelon. (7) PACINO HANOVER is a horse I am extremely fond of when he isn’t racing in the Open. Lo and behold, he takes a small drop to the Open two where he should be extremely competitive. (2) LOUS WORLD was a sharp second in last week’s Open pace, and got the type of pace setup that allowed him to make up the necessary ground. I can see him working out a mid-pack trip and getting at least a piece. Race 10: NW $3,400 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,475 P/S IN 2025-2026. AE: NW $4,500 IN 2026 (MIN 3 STARTS). I’m personally not the biggest fan of (8) HUNGRY MAN, but he has shown enough in recent weeks to where I trust McNair to send him down the road. He might be a slight underlay in the betting. (4) CODENAME CIGAR BOX was unable to sustain his move last week, but was racing against tougher horses. He continues his descent down the class ladder and looks for a wakeup call. (1) JMR SPEAK AWAY finds a perfect middle ground after sprinting home two starts ago. He should be right in the mix again if he can work out a trip. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 11: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. I’ve been on the wrong side of (5) JJ XAVIER all season, but it’s hard to look past him after a dominant first over score as the odds on favorite. He should make his presence felt again in this short field. (4) SOMETIME SOMEWHERE was stretching his lead nearing the three quarter pole, but it quickly diminished to JJ Xavier. He held second against this group and can do so again. (3) CENTURY INSPECTOR spoiled any chances after making an early miscue. He can rebound for a piece. Race 12: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STS OR NW $13,500 LAST 8 STS (W/O $15,000 LAST 8 STS N/E). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $12,000 OR LESS L3 STS. AE: OS 5 YO NW $100,000 LT. (7) SOARING NOW is a horse I finally feel comfortable putting my trust in because he showed a flash of his old form. Will he be an underlay again? Yes. (1) DRINKIN BUDDY puts forth a good effort nearly every week, and although the top two morning line choices loom large, he is a horse that could sneak through and add value to exotics. (5) CONVOY TWENTY TWO produced a big final quarter two starts ago, and finds a field that can produce cheap speed if they battle up front. That would set things up perfectly for him to swoop and get a piece at a big price.