Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 5/18

Top Pick Stats: 245 - 750 / $1246.40 (-$253.60)

Best Bets: 41 - 70 / $134.20 (-$5.80)

Spot Plays: 11 - 68 / $65.40 (-$70.20)

Best Bet: CALICOJACK HANOVER (6TH)

Spot Play: POINTS NORTH (10TH)

Early Pick 5: 4,6,7/2,3/4,8/2,8,10/2,6 = $14.40

Late Pick 5: 3/4,5,8/5,9/2,5,9/3,6,9 = $10.80

Early Pick 4: 2,8,10/2,6/3/4,5,8 = $3.60

Late Pick 4: 4,5,8/5,9/2,5,9/3,9 = $7.20

Race 1: 5YO and younger winners of 2 (F&M3) but not more than 4 (F&M5) or $45,000 LT **Gtd. $100,000 Pick 5**

(6) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS was right there two starts back in a good effort then broke stride last week. This race has the look of one that can set up for a horse racing close to the front and I’ll take a price shot with him. (7) MASS HYSTERIA coming in off two front end wins at tonight’s class level will have to be caught but it appears as if he may face an early challenge for the lead so he could get softened up. (4) YANK MY HALO could do here if he lays closer and gets out into the flow this time. He is the third one that I’ll use in the early Pick 5. (8) WAYS N MEANS stayed flat last time and closed for 2nd behind Mass Hysteria. He is in the exotics mix again.

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Race 2: 4YO and younger NW $15,000 LT

(2) PREMIER FIRST STAR hinted that a top performance was coming two starts back when he lacked room and finished with good energy when free. Driven more aggressively last week in his second start back, he was an impressive maiden breaker. I’ll give him the call to repeat. (3) BOOMBOOM TONIGHT was a win machine in Quebec last season, and he looks ready for this sophomore debut as he makes his first start for trainer Mitchell. He would be no surprise here. (1) LIKE A GLOVE raced well from post 10 in his sophomore debut now he moves inside. He has upset potential here. (5) FAST LOUIE had clear sailing from the pocket in the lane last week, but he lost two positions. I’ll use him underneath here.

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Race 3: Winners of 4 but not more than 7 or $80,000 LT

This is a good tilt between two North America Cup probables (8) CLEVER CODY and (4) LEGENDARY HANOVER. I’ll side with the former who I think will offer a better price. Fast-improving (7) SMOKESTACK might be able to sneak into the Tri at a price despite facing tougher tonight. (3) SAULSBROOK IAN looked good winning two starts back then he broke stride last week. I can see him closing for a slice here is he stays flat.

Race 4: NW $10,500 L5 AE: OPT CLM $50,000 - Pick 4

(10) WHEELS ON FIRE drops and this could be the spot for his first win since returning from an absence. I could see him being the last one to clear to the front and leading all the way from there. (8) CODENAME CIGAR BOX is another dropper that should show speed here. He could offer an overlaid price and he will be on my multi-race tickets. (2) THE LONGEST YARD is another dropper that figures in here and he gets a good post to work from. He should get a good trip tonight and he is another possibility for early multi-race tickets. (1) BAYFIELD BEACH raced well last week and got picked off late in the lane. He should be good for a share here.

Race 5: NW $14,200 L5 AE: OPT CLM $70,000

(6) MR IBIZA N was out of contention in a couple of seconds after the start last week, but he made a nice late rally to get a share. Moving to the 6-hole should help here and I’ll give him the nod. (2) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE dropped, popped, and equaled his lifetime mark last week. He is obviously sharp and dangerous. (1) REACTOR NOW A should get a trip here on the class drop and land in the money. (3) ROCKME ROLLME has been racing well, but these are tougher. A small share is likely for him this time.

Race 6: 5YO and younger NW2 or $30,000 LT - Pick 5

(3) CALICOJACK HANOVER made it into the final of the Metro Stakes last year and it appears he has found a soft spot as he adds Lasix for this sophomore debut. He should be hard to beat if he is driven with intent. I thought (5) AT EASE HANOVER raced decently after starting from the 9-hole last week and he can get a good piece of this moving to the middle of the gate. (7) BOLD SPIRIT paced a sub-1:52 mile but that was only good for 4th in a good field. He should be part of the Tri tonight. (8) CHALK HANOVER exits the same race, and I can see him rallying for a small slice here.

Race 7: NW $5,500 L5 or $11,500 L10 - Pick 4

(8) BEYOND BETTER comes off a strong try in an amateur drivers race, and he is obviously sharp. He steps up off that loss and he will likely offer a great price. Call to upset. (5) CAPITANO ITALIANO had no chance trying to close into a 1:49 1/5 mile last week, but he did pass some rivals late. He should be the one to fend off here. (4) TORONTO moves inside, and he can improve sharply in this spot; using. (1) THRILLING TIMES will likely sit a trip here and land in the bottom of the exotics.

Race 8: 5YO and younger winners of 2 but not more than 4 or $45,000 LT

(5) CAPTAINS QUARTERS starts his campaign towards the North America Cup here and although he will likely get a conservative drive here, I still think he gets the job done rallying off cover. (9) TARQUINUS HANOVER made several moves last week to pace a winning sub-1:50 mile and he could upset the choice if he can replicate that mile. (1) SERGEANT SLAUGHTER was used hard in the first 3/4 of the mile last week and he had no answer for Tarquinis Hanover. He likely takes a slice here. (2) CUPID SHUFFLE was first up in the slop in his sophomore debut in a sires stake and he can improve enough off that effort to land in the exotics.

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Race 9: NW $26,550 L5 AE: NW 10 LT

(9) COMMAND raced better last week now he gets on a 7-day rotation. This is a good spot for him to take his first win as a four-year-old. (5) AMERICAN HISTORY drops, and his big late kick should play well here. He will probably be the one to fend off late in the mile. (2) STONE CARVER jogged three starts back then he had to move up too high for two starts. He fits better here, and he is in with a shot starting from the inside. (3) ARIO HANOVER jogged last week but these are tougher. I’ll use him underneath here.

Race 10: NW $10,500 L5 AE: OPT CLM $50,000

The last time (9) POINTS NORTH dropped to this level seven starts back, he was coming off a 10th-place finish and the drops was exactly what the doctor ordered, he jogged. I say history repeats here; top call. (3) JACK PANIC was only three lengths behind Legendary Hanover at the wire last week and that makes him one of the top contenders in this field; using. (6) BOSTON BOUND could wake up on the class drop here and making his fourth start back. Consider him for late multi-race tickets. (5) REVOLT flashed speed vs. better in his first local start since shipping back north. He fits better here, and he can take a share. (1) WRY exits the Ontario Graduate series but he missed a week. He fits well enough here to take a share.