Top Pick Stats: 90/265 (-$123.80) Best Bets: 9/23 (-$10.80); Spot Plays: 4/24 (-$30.70) Best Bet: ALLSTAR MANIAC (Race 3) Spot Play: MADRID A (Race 4) Early Pick 5: 3,4,6/4,6/2/6/2,5,9   $3.60 Late Pick 5: 2,8/3,8/3,7/2,3/2,7   $6.40 Race 1: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $62,000 (OS $88,500) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS N/A $1,680 P/S IN 2024-2025. (6) AARDIES MONEY N didn’t get her type of trip last week against a tough conditioned group. She gets away from the rail which should help allow her to be forwardly placed. I’m expecting a strong rebound effort. (4) MACAPELO SEELSTER faced Grassroots company last time, but respect is necessary for that dominant win. (3) DIRTY DIANA continues to get support from Bob McClure. She could pass plenty of rivals late if some of these can’t bring it home. (9) WINDSUN CHARLOTTE likely won’t get the racing luck that she did last week, and now she draws poorly, but I can see her knifing through later to pick off rivals. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. (6) TH KAY C CRUNCH should win this if he fires his best. He was the beaten favorite last time, but tried two moves during a wicked pace. (4) FRANCO SANTANA N is five years old but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to improve. I think he is aggressively handled. (5) BRUNO NO NO NO got a check last time with a furious late rally. He should improve against this overall weaker group. (2) TITO N CHEDDAR draws a much better post this week. He is a consistent type that can hit the ticket. Race 3: 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. (2) ALLSTAR MANIAC was excellent when finally let loose on the lead. I hope tonight’s new driver gets those same instructions, because he has the talent and speed to repeat here. (3) CRACK SHOT was a sick scratch when last sent out for a race, but appears to have no rust given his dominant qualifier score. (6) SET SHOT tried to be first over after sitting close to a fast pace. He deserves another look. (1) JOEL AND THE JETS is a colt who I personally don’t think has much staying power in this division, but Jamieson’s option to drive him deserves some recognition. Race 4: FILLIES & MARES, NW $9,000 LAST 5 OR $18,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. (6) MADRID A was stuck behind a wall of horses in the stretch and never got a chance to fire her best shot. McNair gets back on and should look to get her a cleaner trip. (4) ROCKNROLL ANNIE dug in after a first over trip to finish third. She showed more than others in that effort and has been racing well as of late. (8) COZ IM SPECIAL should appreciate the drop in class and the trip should be fine if you think Jamieson goes forward. (5) SETTN A PRECEDENT looked like she wasn’t going to have any room, but was just outsprinted when asked for her best. An underneath use only. Race 5: NW $6,600 LAST 5 OR $15,500 LAST 10 STARTS. (2) LEGION SEELSTER has been knocking on the door for weeks now and rebounded nicely in his latest. He is one that is hard to put away. (5) BEYOND BETTER produced another furious late rally, but hung just enough to where he couldn’t get the job done. He is a perennial bridesmaid. (9) NAUTICAL HANOVER probably has no choice but to be blasted off the car, but I wonder how much staying power he’ll have. With how the track has been playing lately, he could go down the road. (4) MYULTIMATE SNOWY A got the nod from McNair which is interesting. He likely won’t improve enough to hit the board here, but a step forward could see him sneak onto the ticket. Race 6: NW $15,000 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $130,000 LIFETIME. AE: N/A $2,725 P/S IN 2025. (2) DUBLIN DASHER has been holding his own against the top pacers on the grounds since shipping in from PA. He gets my nod on the drop in class. (8) BLUE HUNT has the ability to win in :48 and change if he’s firing on all cylinders. He was great two back and didn’t get a good trip last time. The Cullen trainees could easily finish 1-2. (7) HEAD HONCHO steps up to the optional 70K claiming level, but he’s been so strong in recent weeks that I have to use him on tickets. He can stay in races much longer than others. (3) JACK PANIC finally broke the 0-for two starts ago and had no shot last time. He is fighting for board hits seemingly every week. Race 7: POP UP SERIES FINAL: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $10,000 OR LESS IN LAST START. (3) DELIGHTFUL LEADER could go under the radar after his recent scratch, but he was a very strong second last time out and is in good form. I’ll count on him being ready to go. (8) FOREFATHER wasn’t catching the heavily favored winner but didn’t lose much ground. I would expect another strong finish. (1) LAKERS BANK was bet like he couldn’t lose and didn’t, but could get himself into trouble with the rail draw and new driver. (9) WALLACE HARTLEY probably has no choice but to blast from this post. He can hang on for a piece. Race 8: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $50,000 (OS $62,500) LIFETIME. (3) SOS SPORTS BET was one I tried last week and really thought he would get past Control Rocks, but he came up short. I’ll try him again tonight with McNair hopping right back aboard. I can’t shake the feeling that (7) AQUINAS HANOVER will get his trip and capitalize on it eventually. It wasn’t happening last week with the front end speed that Allstar Maniac had, but he was battling again. (6) CAPTAIN HURLEY took a lot of pressure in the early stages and had reason to tire. Look for him to rebound. (4) SILVERWALLS gets away from the rail which could help him. He hasn’t been showing as much in his last two efforts. Race 9: PREFERRED 2. (2) CENTURY KOMODO has been knocking on the door at the top level and finished best of anyone in last week’s Preferred. He gets my nod. (3) ITS MAJOR MAJOR A was favored when stepping up to this level and backed up his July 5 win with another fast score. He deserves plenty of respect. (8) TAURASI was battling in the stretch but could only manage fourth. McNair sticks and should give him a forward trip again. (7) POSEIDON SEELSTER continues to battle and earn minor checks. He is a logical use underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: POP UP SERIES CONSOLATION: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $10,000 OR LESS IN LAST START. (7) LAMBORGHINI LOU hasn’t been firing his best lately but this is a perfect spot to step forward. He shouldn’t be too far back if he decides to just float out. (2) PREMIER FIRST STAR gets big post relief tonight and could add some value to the exotics if he sits close enough. (1) HOWYOUPLAY THEGAME was even in both starts of this Pop-Up, though he could be aggressively handled like he was three back. Very unsure about him. (3) MAYHEM HANOVER needs to improve but gets McNair back in the bike. Coming back in seven days could help. Race 11: NW $9,800 LAST 5 OR $18,950 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: N/A $1,975 P/S IN 2024-2025. (2) LARRY KARR could get back to his front stepping ways with a much improved post. I think price shopping is the key in this wide open finale. (4) SOUTHSIDE EDDY has been given chances late which I love to see. If the trip works out for him, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get the job done. (3) ORDER ONE TO GO has been close in recent weeks and could finally get his setup with all the potential speed. I want nothing to do with (10) CLEVER CODY, especially from this post. I have no idea why he was 3-5 last week, but he showed more than what he had been, at least. (1) HUNGRY MAN just hasn’t been firing his best lately. He can sneak through and round out this Hi-5.