Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 8/1/26

Top Pick Stats: 413/1290 (-$628.40)

Best Bets: 52/115 (-$26.30); Spot Plays: 27/118 (-$73.90)

Best Bet: LITE UP THE WORLD (Race 10)

Spot Play: TROUBLE WITH NAMES (Race 8)

Early Pick-5: 3,5/3,8/5,6/4,8/7 $3.20

Late Pick-5: 3,5,8/5,6/2/1,2/3 $2.40

Race 1: NW $20,000 LAST 4 STARTS. AE: N/A $3,800 P/S IN 2025-26.

(5) CENTURY KOMODO was a sharp winner fourth back and draws well tonight. I’ll give him the nod to repeat. (3) CHAIN GANG sustained a long, outside move and picked off the rival inside of him for second. He is in sharp form right now. (6) DALTON SHARD N had to settle for an underneath spot after making multiple moves. He draws better and can get a piece.

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Race 2: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: GRASSROOTS OR PROSPECT STARTERS.

(3) JOHNNY ANGEL gets away from the white-hot Odds On Bullfrog and fits extremely well against Grassroots horses. I think McNair gets him a trip. (8) EXACTLY CORRECT has to deal with the outside post but is another in sharp form. He has decent early speed to overcome the draw. (5) SCORPION SEELSTER needs the race to setup for him but his turn of foot should leave him with a chance to at least get a piece.

Race 3: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,905 P/S IN 2025-2026.

(5) ITS MAJOR MAJOR A is fourth back now and has been pacing miles that make him a logical win candidate. (6) WHY WOULDNT YA has a nice turn of foot that should allow him to pass most rivals with the right trip. (7) LAKERS BACK is second back after a no chance trip in his latest. He can be speedy but has yet to win this year.

Race 4: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: GRASSROOTS OR PROSPECT STARTERS.

(8) HALL OF FEAR showed he can hang at the Grassroots level in his latest. I expect him to be activated early from the outside and get a good trip. (4) MEGA MOVES had no chance in his latest. His only win this year came in Grassroots competition and he draws well tonight. (5) EVANS LEGACY has a decent turn of foot but will need to work out a trip. A new pilot could unlock something.

Race 5: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. AE: N/A $2,060 P/S IN 2026.

(7) STABLE GENIUS looked like his old self last week when romping. We’ll see if he can repeat it against a slightly tougher group. (9) MISTER MAGIC really does deserve more publicity. I haven’t seen a horse do what he’s done and be as gritty as he has over an extended period. Outside post this week will test him. (6) MANOAH gets a drop but needs to get away closer to the leaders. His turn of foot isn’t quite good enough to allow him to sustain an outside move.

Race 6: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000.

I’ll take a shot with (3) DOWS UP who blitzed first over in a very quick race, but faltered late for obvious reasons. He took sneaky good support at the windows last week. (8) STICKEMINLETHIMGO was rallying up the inside but got picked off by a flying (5) WANNABEABIGSTAR. The former will have to work hard if activated early which could set it up for the latter again.

Race 7: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME.

(6) MAJOR MIKI was the easiest of winners last week and is third back now. Hard to ignore him with this draw. (5) ELLINGTON has an excellent turn of foot for the level but is usually closing from near last. He will be passing rivals late. (9) D A BODACIOUS had no choice but to win last week against that field. A lane somehow opened up the inside and he scooted away. Tougher field and post tonight.

Race 8: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: GRASSROOTS STARTERS FOR NW $16,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $27,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: PROSPECT STARTERS.

(2) TROUBLE WITH NAMES could get the best setup here if the usual speed types mix it up. He is better from off the pace in my opinion. (5) THE CONQUEROR has a decent turn of foot but needs to be positioned accordingly. I’ll forgive him for last week’s miscue. (9) ANIBAL DUHARAS is a mystery now after coming up short at a small price. If he works out a trip off a helmet, he could be in the mix.

Race 9: OPEN.

(1) CALICOJACK HANOVER held his own against Ervin Hanover last week and could easily step forward again. I’ll look for him to pull off the slight upset. (2) PRINCE HAL HANOVER is the obvious class of this field and his form has been very good since the Battle, but he doesn’t need to win here. (6) CRACK SHOT was pressured heavily in his latest and faltered late. He may blast again from this post. Can he rebound?

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Race 10: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $22,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $125,000 LIFETIME. AE: NW OF A RACE IN 2026.

(3) LITE UP THE WORLD might just pace these off their feet if Mark Mac gets aggressive. We saw him do so three starts ago. (5) DELRAY BEACH is second back after a big effort in his latest. He draws better and could win if he takes a step forward. (6) PREMIER FIRST STAR took advantage of a short field in his latest and got the job done. A first over grind could leave him a step short.

Race 11: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $16,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OS 4 YR OLDS NW 2 RACES LAST 10 STARTS.

(2) NUCLEAR gets a big post switch and returns to the level where he won three back. He’ll need to bring his A-Game in a wide-open race. (4) LOUS WORLD has been sharp from off the pace, but I expect some gate speed to be used tonight from this draw. (5) CAPTAIN HURLEY doesn’t win enough for my liking but is frequently a contender to round out tickets with his turn of foot.