Top Pick Stats: 169/512 (-$187.00) Best Bets: 18/46 (-$27.20); Spot Plays: 9/47 (-$48.50) Best Bet: BYTHEMISSAL (Race 10) Spot Play: BLUE HUNT (Race 3) Early Pick-5: 6,8/2,3/3,8/6/1   $1.60 Mid Pick-5: 6,7,9/3/7/5/4   $0.60 Late Pick-5: 7/5/4/1,5,7/8,10   $1.20 Race 1: NW $9,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $21,750 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $64,500 IN 2025 (MIN 14 STARTS). (6) DIRTY LIL PIGLET is back in just five days after a dominant score at the claiming class just below this. His early speed and staying power makes him a threat on the step up. He should be just fine here. (8) PACINO HANOVER flew from last to only miss by just over a length as the slight favorite in his latest. He is one of a few horses with a turn of foot that can allow him to make up significant ground when racing from off the pace. (5) FORTIFY comes off two even efforts in PEI in the Gold Cup and Saucer, but he has been capable of winning Open level races here in the past. Zeron could strike early. (7) NAUTICAL HANOVER comes off a confidence boosting win as the heavy favorite. He should be part of the early pace mix, but will need to show a little bit more. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 4: 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $900 CDN ($700 USD). (2) FIFTH AND FIVE continues to show he has a nose for the wire, extending his streak of wins to, appropriately, five after a head victory against similar types. I’ll give him the nod to continue the streak. (3) CONTROL ROCKS didn’t get his kind of trip last time. He usually only wants to do one thing, and that’s go forward. He has raced well in past Gold tries and deserves a long look. (4) BACKUP PLAN was a very strong second in his latest behind TH Kay C Crunch who finally put it all together. He is speedy enough to deserve a shot at the Gold level, and should benefit from a short field. (6) DOCS BUDDY showed enough tactical speed in Kentucky to make you think he may not take back, especially with Dunn returning, but he will need to class up to the top ones here. I’ll use him underneath. Race 3: NW $15,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $32,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW 9 RACES LIFETTIME. (8) BLUE HUNT could be set for a speed try with Cullen back in the bike. The two teamed up for a win four starts ago after he was driven aggressively. (3) CALICOJACK HANOVER looks ready to roll after his sharp qualifier win. His last effort at Mohawk was very strong. (6) HEAD HONCHO is a horse I continue to use because he just never seems to quit. He grinds out solid efforts week after week and significantly outraced his odds in his last two efforts. (4) WRITE ME A ROSE was left chasing Remember The Alamo in his latest, but there was no shame in losing to that rival. I would count on a bounce back effort from him with an up close trip. He can hold on for a piece. Race 4: SIMCOE: (GR 3). 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $1,500 CDN ($1,150 USD). (6) EMOTICON LEGACY gets my slight nod because of his past history at this track. He got picked off in the late stages at Pocono by another top trotter in Super Chapter. I think Roy gets the jump from this post and could take them the distance. (1) MARYLAND ships to Mohawk in search of his first win of the season. The already double-millionaire makes his first start back since the Hambletonian. He deserves respect. (7) GALEN ERSO will need to class up to the top two, but has enough tactical speed which could allow McNair to get him in a good spot. He can hit the board. (2) WILDTURKEY HANOVER was a solid winner last time out despite getting bumpy gaited. He dominated last week’s morning prep which should keep him sharp. He can grab a share. Race 5: SIMCOE: (GR 3). 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. STARTING FEE: $1,500 CDN ($1,150 USD). (1) LASTING DREAM was unable to catch Global Heritage in the sprint home. She likely didn’t benefit from taking control when the pace slowed in the middle portions. I think a quarter move comes this week and she gets the job done. (5) R DUTCHESS held off the pocket sitting Zette Athena in the stretch, and those two were a few lengths clear of the others. It wouldn’t surprise me if the top two line up and try to outsprint each other in the stretch. (6) SPRITE SEELSTER was left chasing R Dutchess last week, but continued her streak of always hitting the board in 2025. She can do it again tonight. (8) ROXIE HART has taken a bit of a fall from grace in recent weeks, but continues to fight for checks. She adds Lasix and can close for another share. Race 6: FILLIES & MARES PREFERRED. (7) COCO JO JO just missed after an impressive first over move. She has been very sharp in recent weeks. It was an impressive grind into contention, which eventually saw her get picked off by (9) CAVIAR N CRACKERS who got the rail to open up for her after sitting in the pocket. It’s hard to ignore her given the record this year, but I hesitate slightly when it comes to the trip she gets. (6) GRIT N GRACE was apparently the wrong horse to pick when Chantilly came to town on August 8, because she was empty when angling out from the pocket. Last week saw her succeed from off the pace, which I don’t think I had seen prior to that. She could pull off the upset with the right trip. (8) TELLS ON A ROLL has been right there in recent starts, but the wins just aren’t coming like they used to. She could latch onto a live helmet and get a piece. Race 7: MAPLE LEAF TROT FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLDS & OLDER. (3) AETOS KRONOS S produced the first ever sub-1:50 trotting mile in Canada in his elimination. After an effort like that, it’s hard to pick against him, but they race them for a reason. (5) LEXUS KODY was given a first over chance by Gingras and ended up holding off the big favorite. He should be forwardly placed off the car and get another good trip. (7) GAINES HANOVER was moving well at the end of his mile after being angled to the outside. He could loom as an exotic booster if he latches on to live cover. (4) PERICULUM is a horse I really don’t want much to do with now. He got a perfect tow up in the Cashman, then couldn’t go by Lexus Kody, who he’s supposed to go by. He’s a nice horse, but I’ll look elsewhere. Race 8: OPEN. (7) REMEMBER THE ALAMO could not be caught after quarter moving to the lead, and went on to set a new career best. The new shooters don’t scare me; I’ll give him the call to repeat. (2) ABUCKABETT HANOVER gets Dexter Dunn back in the bike after a subpar effort in his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination. He has been extremely hit and miss this year, but a big effort could be in store against some of Mohawk’s top overnight stock. (1) CENTURY KOMODO was unable to get a check when racing from well off the pace, but that’s not his game. He can be dangerous when grinding into contention. (4) TAURASI is inching closer to another win and could be in the perfect spot if he finds his way into the pocket. Hard to handicap a trip like that, but it could happen. Race 9: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 4: 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $900 CDN ($700 USD). (5) ALLSTAR MANIAC was driven patiently by J-Mac last week, but he was looming up menacingly in the few strides he took before hooking wheels with another rival. That took him completely out of contention. He deserves another look tonight. (2) CRACK SHOT returns from some good efforts in Kentucky behind some of Burke’s top stock. He has a decent track record at Mohawk and has the speed to contend. (7) CENTURY LUCIFER was a strong second two starts ago after grinding into contention. He was going to be a major factor last week, but was scratched sick. Depending on how sharp he is tonight, he can get a piece. (6) BOXER SEELSTER hasn’t missed many checks this season, but when the going gets tough, he doesn’t quite respond with enough. He can hold on for a share. Race 10: CANADIAN PACING DERBY FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLDS & OLDER. (4) BYTHEMISSAL freaked last week and put together by far his best effort of 2025. Heck, maybe of his career. His effort in the Dan Patch was a step in the right direction, but I don’t think anyone expected something like that in the eliminations. When he is on his game like that, he is so much fun to watch. (1) RUTHLESS HANOVER was my top pick in his elimination, and McNair gave him the trip he was supposed to: a front-end mission. He got picked off in the late stages, but raced extremely well, and should be firing out from the rail. His price will be inflated. (6) ERVIN HANOVER had the recency at the track to his advantage, and parlayed a perfect pocket trip into a win over Ruthless Hanover. He draws perfectly to try and trip out again. (9) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR was flying late behind the two above him and made his way into the final. He will be looking for live cover as he normally does, but if others show the speed that they’re capable of, he will be scrambling to get a piece. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 11: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,500 LIFETIME. AE: 3YO NW $8,750 LAST 5 STARTS. (1) WELCOMETOTHESHOW has shown strong speed and ability stateside, and comes off a very nice winning qualifier. He should do some good things right away when shipping in. (5) PAC MAN HANOVER was well supported when Louis Roy returned to the bike. The horse responded extremely well when first over despite the month off and getting late pulled on around the turn. He should be sharper tonight with a quicker turnaround. (7) CAPTAIN HURLEY has made the most of off the pace trips in his last two efforts. He is a candidate to get his picture taken if he brings his best. (6) D A LOVE BOAT has hit the board just twice this year but has been facing some tougher competition. He can grind out a share tonight. Race 12: NW $7,550 LAST 5 STARTS AE: N/A $2,265 P/S IN 2025 (MIN 15 STARTS). (10) MOMAS SON BYRNE has had some issues this year, but he looked very strong in both of his recent qualifiers, and could be ready to roll on returning to action. (8) LEGION SEELSTER is a horse that is deserving of use on tickets pretty much every week. His staying power is top tier at this level, and it has stuck with him even through the last couple of seasons. (6) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH is logical if you think he gets a speed try. From this post, it might be his only choice. He should have an easier time being first to the lead than last week. (2) CONTROL THE POWER has some very strong strides on the end of his miles, and could benefit if things get western up front. There should be plenty of movement which can allow him to get into the flow. (9) BATTERUP HANOVER hasn’t raced that poorly in his last two efforts, but the speed on display was too much for him in the late stages. As things start to slowly but surely cool down, his closing kick could become more of a factor. I’ll use him to round out tonight’s Hi-5.