Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 8/2

Top Pick Stats: 105/303 (-$84.20)

Best Bets: 11/26 (-$8.90); Spot Plays: 6/27 (-$24.40)

Best Bet: CENTURY KOMODO (Race 8)

Spot Play: HUNGRY MAN (Race 4)

Early Pick 5: 2,4,5,8/4,5/4,5/4/1,8 $6.40

Late Pick 5: 1,5/ALL/5/6,7/1 $8.00

Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER NW OF 2 RACES OR $18,250 (ON SIRED $24,000) LIFETIME.

(2) SIR VAYLANCE has continued to outrace his odds and continues to improve with each start. He gets my nod tonight. (5) SHINING MOMENT has had nothing go his way since returning. He has the ability to make noise if he puts everything together. (4) DEVILS WISH has been better when racing up close, and Plante has pressed the pedal on plenty recently. (8) IM A PAPI HANOVER has been facing tougher horses. He can close for a piece.

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Race 2: PREFERRED.

(4) TAURASI has been sitting on a win at the top level for a while now, and looks back in top form after his front-end score. (3) BRUE HANOVER has been the top pacer here all year, but they all get beat at some point. He should be right in the mix. (5) ERVIN HANOVER has paced some big miles as of late against the top Grand Circuit types. McNair’s choice looms large. (6) DUBLIN DASHER isn’t too far behind these types and shows enough staying power to grind out a solid finish.

Race 3: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $50,000 IN 2025 (MIN 12 STARTS). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS IN LAST START. LEG 1.

(4) BEYOND BETTER finds a shorter field to make his big closing kick more effective. The pace should be solid enough again. (5) BATTERUP HANOVER also produced a similarly impressive closing performance, but that was after being off for two months. His upside could be highest. (7) ROCKABILLY REBEL N faded back after setting fractions that were too quick. He should be forward again and could get a cheap second quarter. (6) RESPECT OUR FLAG has been grinding out checks in other Pop Up races. He can do the same tonight.

Race 4: NW $3,100 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: NOT AVERAGING $1,185 PER START IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS).

(4) HUNGRY MAN takes a substantial drop in class and should be driven like the best horse in this race. I think he gets back to his winning ways. (8) WIND BLOWN had a tough trip in his latest and is another class dropper who should improve. (5) PREMIER FIRST STAR is always a threat to track down cheap speed and is getting closer to a win. (6) CENTURY INSPECTOR races off the claim after some subpar efforts against tough horses. He should fare better here.

Race 5: NW $3,000 LAST 5 OR $9,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: NW $7,000 IN 2025. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000.

(8) WALKONTHEMOON is a classy veteran who takes a drop from a Pop Up Series. I would expect him to be on the move early. (1) MISTER MAGIC bottomed out the field in his latest. He should be right in the mix again. (3) VICTOR INVICTUS draws another good post and likes to grind into the race. He can add value to the exotics. (6) MYSTIC was bet like he was going to put forth a good performance, but broke after the quarter. He was already hard to trust before that.

Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $68,500. AE: OS 4 YEAR OLDS N/A $3,260 P/S IN 2025.

(5) BACKUP PLAN went the biggest trip of his career last time out, but had to settle for second. He finds a solid group of sophomores that he can beat. (1) CAPTAIN HURLEY did not have a very good trip last week, but still managed to grab a check. Look for him to rebound. (6) THE VICAR is usually left chasing in the late stages but has battled until the end. I trust his staying power. (2) FRANCO SANTANA N held off every rival last week with a gritty effort. I expect him to be forwardly placed.

Race 7: FILLIES & MARES, NW $3,000 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: NW $35,000 IN 2025. AE: N/A $1,890 P/S IN 2024-2025. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000.

(7) LYONS BETTORDAY is my tepid top call in a wide open race. She will need to be put in play, at least more than she has been of late. (8) COCCO PUFF POWER has had a lackluster year but has shown flashes when in the right spot. She will spice up exotics if she brings her best. (10) CHICKABELL was flying in the late stages of her latest but now draws outside. She is another price use for me. (2) YODA QUEEN adds Lasix after an outside trip that went awry. She could show more this time.

Race 8: NW $19,750 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW OF A RACE LAST 10 STARTS.

(5) CENTURY KOMODO finds a group he could finally take advantage of. His big miles have come and gone without a win for too long. (7) BLUE HUNT made two moves en route to a strong second. Expect him to be forwardly placed again. (2) HEAD HONCHO has held his own in two starts at this level. He might be outsprinted in the early stages and look for a helmet to follow. (3) JACK PANIC was an even fifth last week. He can grind out a share again.

Race 9: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000.

(6) B STONEY draws a better post given the shorter field and should have every opportunity to rebound and post a strong effort. (7) KYLES ART adds Lasix and is back in for the 40K tag. He is another looking to get back to form. (2) HP LIS SHADOW should be much closer to the pace which could allow him to spice up exotics. (5) STASH IT AWAY tried an outside move into a third quarter that was slowing, but he couldn’t sustain it.

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Race 10: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $50,000 IN 2025 (MIN 12 STARTS). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS IN LAST START. LEG 1.

(1) JK BLACK GOLD has been facing some very classy horses elsewhere and comes off a solid third at The Meadowlands. I think he shows up with a big mile for top connections. (2) STORM SHADOW drops into this Pop Up and is more consistent than these claimer types in my opinion. (3) ROCHESTER FLASH pulled off the slight upset after an off the pace rally. It was an excellent start in his first race off the claim. A repeat puts him right there. (6) BOLD SPIRIT was a horse that many were chasing, and he finally popped at the wonderful price of 3-2. An underneath use for me tonight.

Race 11: NW $9,500 LAST 5 OR $19,000 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: N/A $2,340 P/S IN 2025-2025.

(2) CLEVER CODY is rounding into form that you can trust and draws much better tonight. (1) UNCLE SHANK A should improve on the drop in class. I’d expect the inside two to be on the move early. (7) ORDER ONE TO GO got the job done in his latest and should capitalize if the pace gets super hot. He can close to hit the board. (4) P L OZZY becomes a confusing type again. He made a break at the start and now races off the claim. I’ll use him underneath. (6) SOUTHSIDE EDDY could get the jump on everyone in the early stages but will have to deal with a quarter move from someone. He can hang on to round out the Hi-5.