Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 5/25

Top Pick Stats: 256 - 791 / $1298.10 (-$283.90)

Best Bets: 44 - 74 / $146.10 (-$1.90)

Spot Plays: 11 - 72 / $65.40 (-$78.20)

Best Bet: FUNTIME BAYAMA (9TH)

Spot Play: SOUTHWIND SAMBUCCA (12TH)

Early Pick 5: 1/1,5,9/4,5,8/1,3,8,9/6,7,9 = $21.60

Late Pick 5: 5,8/1,3,8/6,10/2/1,7 = $4.80

Early Pick 4: 1,3,8,9/6,7,9/5,8/1,3,8 = $14.40

Late Pick 4: 2/1,7/2,3,4,6,7/6 = $2.00

Race 1: 5YO and younger NW2 or $33,000 LT **Gtd. $100,000 Pick 5**

(1) CALICOJACK HANOVER was ultra impressive in his sophomore debut, pacing a 53-flat back 1/2 uncovered and taking a new life’s mark of 1:51 2/5. If he replicates that effort here, his rivals will be racing for 2nd. (7) LOUS WORLD just finished 3rd to last year’s Breeders Crown winner, and he was racing well before that mile. He figures to be the main threat if there will be one. (6) FAST LOUIE is another that just took a new lifetime mark, but these are tougher, and I’ll use him underneath tonight. (2) BET THE BB brings good form in from Flamboro. He should be in the exotics mix.

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Race 2: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 1. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS

(1) MYRETIREMENTDREAM got a perfect tightener in facing elders starting from post 10 and he will offer a good price here. He could get a setup and roll past these late; call to upset. (5) CONVOY HALL lost very little in defeat in the SBOA final other than the winning purse. He raced great and was beaten by a sharp rival that simply got a better trip. He is the one to knock off here. (9) WILLOWTIME is capable of overcoming a wide post as he showed winning his first two starts last year from wide posts in Gold events. He is another in with a shot in a good betting race. (3) SPIROS can take a slice here if he stays trotting this time.

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Race 3: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 1: 3 YEAR OLD PACING FILLIES

There isn’t much between stablemates (5) IT’S A LOVE THING and (4) PASS LINE and they both drew well again. I’ll give the former a slight nod, but it really is a coin flip. (8) SORCHA SEELSTER might have been the best filly last time when facing the top two choice, but she got the worst trip. She is capable of upsetting if she can find a better trip tonight. (3) LIGHTNING LIZZIE has some talent, and she can sneak into the exotics tonight starting from a better post.

Race 4: 4YO and younger NW $18,600 LT - Pick 4

(1) VINCENDI BLUE CHIP, left, took a shuffle then roared home late in an impressive winning effort. Off that mile, I’ll give him the call to repeat here. (8) PRICE CONTROL set big fractions and held his rivals at bay in a nice winning effort on 5/11. He looks like the main threat. (9) TAMWORTH BOY gets McClure here after kicking home in 26-flat last time. He is a possible upsetter that is worth a look. (3) CHALK HANOVER gets a better post and Macdonald back. He should be part of the exotics tonight.

Race 5: F&M NW $8,000 L5 AE: OPT CLM $50,000

(7) ALABAMA HANNAH was a front-end winner last time she raced this low, and Roy will look to send her down the road tonight; top call. (9) IMA DOLL has been facing a steady diet of good four-year olds and she appears to fit well vs. these; using. (6) MS QUICK SAND draws best and picks up Henry and she has the look of a possible pocket rocket upset winner. She is the third one that I’ll use on multi-race tickets. (4) WESTERN WISH raced better last week but the winner was too good. She is in the exotics mix again.

Race 6: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 1. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS - Pick 5

(5) WAYS N MEANS just trotted the fastest lifetime mile of any horse in this field and he is drawn perfectly to get another good trip here. I’ll call him to notch a slight upset over (8) GRIFF. The latter will rightfully take a lot of action after knocking off previously undefeated Convoy Hall. He is the one to knock off. (4) R PEAKY BLINDERS made short work of maidens in his sophomore debut, but this is tougher; small share predicted. (6) CAPTAIN WANIA is putting together a good season and he is sure to blast early for position starting from the best post. I think he sticks around for a spot in the Tri or Super.

Race 7: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 1: 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS

(8) TROPHY TAKER comes in off a big mile in the slop in Pennsylvania and he goes for Menary/Macdonald here. I expect a top effort. (1) UNRIVALED HANOVER finished 2nd twice in a row to Funtime Bayama, who might be the best sophomore pacer on the continent. He rates highly here. (3) STORM SHADOW warmed up for this first Gold by finishing 3rd to Funtime Bayama twice in those same races. He is capable and dangerous. (2) WARRAWEEFORLAURA hasn’t missed the board yet and he could better this placing with a decent trip.

Race 8: NW $23,250 L5 AE: Ont. Sired NW10 LT

(6) WRITE ME A ROSE flew home in 25 4/5 last week but the leader was just too tough. This looks like a spot where he gets a setup for his potent late kick; top call. (10) POSEIDON SEELSTER is an obvious contender on the class drop but you wonder if the trip will be too taxing starting from the 10-hole. I’d demand a price. (9) AMERICAN HISTORY will likely be passing many of these in the final 1/4 and he can work his way into the Tri. (7) COMMAND has been right there in two fast miles in a row, and he is in the mix here again, but I prefer to use him underneath.

Race 9: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 1: 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS - Pick 4

(2) FUNTIME BAYAMA has been lights out in his first two starts as a sophomore as he marches towards the North America Cup, and he should have no problem taking another win here. The value in this race might be found underneath. I’m going to use improving (1) JMR SPEAK AWAY for 2nd hoping he trips out and comes on late. (6) NIJINSKY dominated a decent field, and he will be a clear second choice here, but I don’t want an Exacta that will be paying less then even money. (3) WATCHING SUNSET has shown improvement at three and he is another bomb that may get into the exotics.

Race 10: PREFERRED HANDICAP. PP#1-6 DRAWN. PP#7 ASSIGNED

(7) TAURASI has been king of this class for several months and he remains so until dethroned. (1) DRAGONONTHEBEACH just took a new life’s mark in a strong effort, and he is sharp enough to be a threat here. I’ll use him on late multi-race tickets. (6) CONTROL HEAVEN is two for three in the Smith barn and he was really good last week winning from the 10-hole and equaling his lifetime mark, but he steps into the lion’s den now. I’ll use him underneath here. (3) EMMETTS BUDDY will likely get outsprinted early here then close for a share.

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Race 11: NW $14,200 L5 AE: OPT CLM $70,000

(3) MOMAS SON BYRNE was motoring late in the mile last week in a start that he likely needed, and he will probably be more aggressive now. I’ll give him a slight nod in a race which has several possibilities. (4) WHEELS ON FIRE almost got the job done from the 10-hole last week, sneaking up the pylons in the lane and falling just short. He won’t held off much longer. (7) UNCLE SHANK A set some big fractions and only got passed late last week. He is a candidate to wire this field. (2) RESPECT OUR FLAG drops, and I could see him tripping out here. He is yet another one to consider for late Pick 4 tickets.

Race 12: Winners of 4 but not more than 7 or NW $80,000 LT

(6) SOUTHWIND SAMBUCCA paced a big mile first up against Legendary Hanover last week and he was clear of the rest for 2nd. He should have a big shot vs. these tonight. (7) REDWOOD HANOVER fits better here after trying the Juravinski with no luck; Exacta factor. (9) KAPTAIN KARLOS is another that raced well against one of this year’s big sophomores last week. He can be right there vs. these. (3) REIGN SUPREME was 3rd behind the choice last week and he can take another share here. (8) STORMALONG will likely blast then last for another small share.