Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 5/2

Top Pick Stats: 220/704 (-$290.00)

Best Bets: 27/64 (-$21.70); Spot Plays: 16/66 (-$39.50)

Best Bet: CALICOJACK HANOVER (Race 9)

Spot Play: CAPTAIN FEAR NOT (Race 10)

Early Pick-5: 5,6/4,7/4,5/4,6/2,7 $6.40

Middle Pick-5: 2,4/2,5/1,6/4/6 $1.60

Late Pick-5: 1,6/4/6/2,5/2,9 $1.60

Race 1: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $16,250 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: STARTER FOR PURSE OF $10,000 OR LESS L2. AE: OS 4YO NW $5,000 L3.

(5) BLAZING CRUISER finds a different bunch this week and has the gate speed, I promise he does, to pull off a trip-out attempt at a price. (6) CODENAME CIGAR BOX is logical when dropping another notch. He should be given a much better chance tonight from a post that many covet. (7) DRINKIN BUDDY tends to sustain his grinding moves and should be right in the mix for a piece.

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Race 2: NW $13,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $33,500 LAST 8 STARTS.

(7) STONEBRIDGE HELIOS comes off two sharp front-end scores and finds a group that he should be competitive with given his current form. (4) JORDY N drops from the Open where he held his own. He will likely be pacing best in the stretch, but needs to secure the right trip. (3) PACINO HANOVER lost the sprint in the stretch but still paced a good mile. He should be right in the mix again this week.

Race 3: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, WINNERS OF 3 BUT NOT MORE THAN 5 RACES OR $100,000 LIFETIME. AE: 4 YR OLDS NW $25,000 LAST 4 STARTS.

(4) FIGMENT produced a career-best win last week and now draws better for a face-off against some horses with more name recognition. I’ll give him the nod. (5) AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO didn’t get the best trip last week but still sprinted for a piece. J-Mac sticks; Both starts since returning have been sharp. (2) LITE UP THE WORLD contains high speed, and was frequently seen in stakes at three. His second morning prep was strong; He should be in the mix right away.

Race 4: POP UP SERIES: FILLIES & MARES, STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $12,500 OR LESS IN 2026 (W/O $50,000 IN 2026 N/E). LEG 1.

(4) SHOOT THE WHISKEY has been rolling against London’s top level and returns against a Pop-Up group that she should be competitive against. A down-the-road score wouldn’t surprise. (6) ONLYTHEGOODDIYOUNG gets away from the rail which should allow her to be more forwardly placed. Her last win came from up close. (7) BLINDED BY DELIGHT has been in similar company and has versatility that should allow her to get in the mix no matter where she gets away.

Race 5: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER NW $15,000 (ON SIRED $18,750) LIFETIME.

(2) I LOVE THIS BAR paced away from his rivals in his seasonal debut and is hard to fault after an effort like that. (7) LIQUID showed some late interest in his first start on Lasix. He has shown gate speed in the past which could set him up for a strong finish if used tonight. (4) DISKO BAY has some upside in my opinion, and both morning preps to start his season support that theory. I wouldn’t necessarily want to get beat by him in multis.

Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME.

(4) BAJAN FIREFLY paced by far his best mile to close out his two-year-old season, and has returned with similarly good qualifiers. He should be right in the mix. (2) BORDERLINE MOBBY was frequently chasing some of the top pacers in North America, but still snagged nearly six figures as a freshman. He adds Lasix after two qualifiers that signal readiness. (10) D A LETS BOOGIE likely takes back in this spot, but he showed some interest before being interfered with late in the mile. He has enough tactical speed to float out and hopefully pass a few before the first turn.

Race 7: FILLIES & MARES, NW $14,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $24,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $120,000 LIFETIME.

(2) VERITY BLUE CHIP looks to extend her winning streak after back-to-back efforts that signal nothing will change. (5) HORIZON SEELSTER has gotten great steers by Roy and is on a win streak of her own. A chalky top two, but something’s gotta give. (7) CAVIAR N CRACKERS wasn’t quite the underlay that I thought she would be, but she still came up short as last week’s favorite. A similar trip might be in the cards.

Race 8: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $16,250 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: STARTER FOR PURSE OF $10,000 OR LESS L2. AE: OS 4YO NW $5,000 L3.

(1) JACK PANIC gets the “handicapping 101” seal of approval given the drop in class and huge post switch. He should be on the move early and take advantage of both. (6) THE LIGHT SPEED should improve in his second start of the year. He has a ton of gate speed when Gagnon wants to use it. (8) TYGA HANOVER held on for a drop-and-pop win last week and should look to be involved early again tonight. I’ll use him underneath.

Race 9: OPEN.

(4) CALICOJACK HANOVER beat Brue Hanover and others on the square last week, and looked really good doing so. I’m fascinated to see how he matches up against his main rival. (2) BRUNO NO NO NO is the best horse in Menary’s barn, no? Given he was 1-5 in the Open three weeks ago, it’s hard to argue that. His only knock is the time off. (3) DUBLIN DASHER has a sharp turn of foot, and usually displays it at the top level, but is also usually no match for the proven commodities. He could add a sliver of value to exactas if he picks off one of the top two.

Race 10: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $22,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000.

(6) CAPTAIN FEAR NOT was moving well when pointed to the outside, but then flattened out. I wonder how much better he would have been if he didn’t have to briefly stop his momentum when a horse pulled in front of him. It would be foolish to not go right back after trying him on top last week. (9) UNCLE SHANK A likely has one option from the high draw, and it’s to repeat what he did last week when holding on for a seasonal best win. If he falters, it could set up the likes of (7) A CLASS YANKEE who is a threat if he steps forward again. His kick tends to get him in the mix, but he is usually a step or two behind where he needs to be when they turn for home.

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Race 11: POP UP SERIES: FILLIES & MARES, STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $12,500 OR LESS IN 2026 (W/O $50,000 IN 2026 N/E). LEG 1.

(2) BETTERNOTMACHME looked to be in a spot where she could really show something, especially given the trip she got, but she was just even. Mohawk has a funny way, though, of producing winners the week after they take enough support to make you think they will perform. She was 5-1 last week, and now should be at least triple that. It’s a bit of a stretch, but this isn’t the most reliable bunch, and I think many will support mares based on name value. (5) KIERA SEELSTER found her best stride just a touch too late last week. She was a strong second in her first start off the claim, and is very logical in this spot. (3) TWIN B EMPRESS made another strong move on the outside last week and was able to hold on for the win. She is also logical here.

Race 12: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $50,000 (OS $62,500) LIFETIME. AE: OS 4 YR OLDS N/A $2,190 P/S IN 2025-26.

(9) AXIAL was a good second to Figment who I picked on top earlier in the card against some salty rivals. He has enough gate speed to overcome the wide draw. (2) FIRE CONTROL gets a big post switch tonight and is likely to take plenty of support again. He has only missed the board once in eight tries this season. (8) PAC MAN HANOVER closed sharply to pick off a heavy favorite last week. With the amount of speed to his inside, a similar kick can see him in the mix at the wire.