Top Pick Stats: 220/662 (-$246.50) Best Bets: 26/60 (-$5.20) Spot Plays: 12/61 (-$37.70) Best Bet: LOUA DIPA (Race 7) Spot Play: JOEL AND THE JETS (Race 12) Value Play: HIGHLANDSTARBURST (Race 6) Early Pick-5: 5,8/6/7/1,9/2,5,7   $2.40 Middle Pick-5: 2,5,9/3/2/6/1,3   $1.20 Late Pick-5: 6/1,3/2/4/2,4,5   $2.40 Pick-6: 2,5,7/2,5,9/3/2/6/1,3   $3.60 Race 1: NW $18,250 LAST 4 STARTS. AE: NW $135,000 LIFETIME. (5) CALICOJACK HANOVER has had two straight trips against Preferred types that were not conducive to winning. I expect him to fire out right away and try to take them the distance, although other early speed types might make their presence felt. (8) ROCHESTER FLASH has taken the jump to upper conditioned levels in stride after being a higher end claiming type. He made a blitz to the front after looking like he was going to be parked out; that is a move that many horses would not sustain. It was a gigantic effort to start drawing away and win. (3) ITS MAJOR MAJOR A was also involved in that Rochester Flash race and made two moves before he even cleared, then battled very gamely to hold on for second. He isn’t the most consistent horse, but he is probably the fastest horse in the group when on his game. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 2 YEAR OLD OPEN. (6) KINGMEN was a sharp second to the heavily favored Strobe Lite in last week’s Champlain. That was with Doug McNair in the bike for the first time, and he was clearly moving best of all despite coming up short. I think he is the clear one to beat. (7) CAPTAIN CODE blasted off the car and was given a chance on the lead. He raced well, but got picked off when Touchedbyanangel got room late. I think he can sit just behind Kingmen. (4) TOUCHEDBYANANGEL took a lot of support after missing a check as the beaten favorite, and was basically given a free shot to win when others went a little wide around the final turn. Could he be the horse to trip out behind Kingmen? I mean, sure, but I don’t think he finishes the job even if he gets a perfect trip. Race 3: FILLIES & MARES FREE FOR ALL. (7) SYLVIA HANOVER got shoved in a locker by the reborn Twin B Joe Fresh in last week’s Milton, but we know that she is the class of Mohawk’s Open ranks. Tetrick returns on a huge night to drive her, and I think she prevails against a very nice bunch of mares. (5) GRIT N GRACE is back to her sharp ways, and when you give her a middle half like she got last week, you just aren’t going to catch her. I could see her sitting in the pocket behind Sylvia Hanover and producing a nice finish. (10) ABSOLUTION might end up as the longest shot on the board, but has proven that she can hang with these types. It’s hard to imagine her not finding a live helmet, as all of these mares can pace big third quarters to tow her into contention. Race 4: FREE FOR ALL. (1) ANTOGNONI S was unable to pick up a check in the Miecuna Invitational at Yonkers after a tough trip. He blasted out from post eight in that extended race, and then had to move first over or else get shuffled back. He ultimately faded, but his prior races speak for themselves. He has been excellent this year, and I think will stack up extremely well against Mohawk’s top types. (9) ULTION FACE S has made his presence felt already since shipping in from Italy, producing some sharp miles in Pennsylvania. His only loss since being here came against the aforementioned Antognoni S. I think Tetrick is aggressive from the start. (2) LOGAN PARK got McNair’s nod, as he is the regular pilot, and comes off a nice qualifier to keep him sharp coming into tonight. I think he can finish in the money. Race 5: FREE FOR ALL. (2) ERVIN HANOVER was gigantic in the Ewart, racing second over and putting everything he had into tracking down Captain Albano in the final strides. Now, this is a race he absolutely does not have to win, but it would not shock me if he gets a :56 and change middle half and rolls down the road. (5) REMEMBER THE ALAMO has plenty of punch off the car and could find himself sitting the pocket after a potential Ervin Hanover quarter move. He tracked off a helmet perfectly and went by to win last week. (4) ABUCKABETT HANOVER comes out of the Ewart as well, but he was hopelessly mired at the back. I want to use him higher, but he just has not looked himself, both on track and on paper. He will need to show more in the early stages if he doesn’t want to be scrambling to find cover. Race 6: ELEGANTIMAGE FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. STARTING FEE: $3,000 CDN $2,325 USD. (5) HIGHLANDSTARBURST was a sharp winner in the PA Sire Stakes Final after sitting a perfect pocket trip. That field as a whole does not measure up to this group, but it was the kind of confidence boosting mile that she absolutely needed. Also, she was 5-2 against R Dutchess just three starts ago. I think she has the ability to trip out again at a double digit number. (9) R DUTCHESS got the most obvious prep drive last week which resulted in her not finding any room and having to settle for fourth. It shouldn’t have taken much out of her, and now the big money is on the line. Tetrick will be firing early. (2) GLOBAL HERITAGE was huge two starts ago when Dexter Dunn came up to drive her in the Casual Breeze. She stayed sharp last week in that same prep race, and could end up being the one to trip out if Dex moves early. Race 7: SHES A GREAT LADY FINAL: (GR 1). 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES. I’m all in on morning line favorite (3) LOUA DIPA who has looked the part ever since she stepped out on the track. She rebounded excellently in her elimination, pacing home in :26 1/5 with the plugs still in. Ronnie Wrenn Jr is here for one drive, and it’s her. She is a special filly, and I think she shows why tonight. (6) DAYA dug in gamely when challenged by pocket sitter Jen Tilly in her elimination, and ended up holding on for the win. I don’t know if she is as fast as the likes of a Loua Dipa or Perfect Thought, but she battles more than maybe any horse in this field, and could easily sit a good trip. (9) PERFECT THOUGHT was a sharp second behind Loua Dipa, and looks like the second best horse in this race, but now draws wide. I still expect Scott Zeron to be aggressive, and maybe float towards the front if things don’t get too chaotic. (8) JEN TILLY looked to be ahead of Daya just slightly, but hung outside and had to settle for second. If she didn’t win there, can you really expect her to win here? Race 8: METRO PACE FINAL: (GR 1). 2 YEAR OLD OPEN. This is what we’ve been waiting for. The heavyweight fight between two undefeated colts that is must-watch TV, and they’re racing for a million bucks. I’ll be in the corner of (2) FRANTIC HANOVER, who effortlessly drew away from rivals in his elimination under no urging whatsoever. He has been a pleasure to watch in PA this season, and is the horse who I think remains undefeated after tonight. (5) BEAU JANGLES has the post edge, many would say, as it is definitely easier to blast out from post five rather than closer to the rail. McClure has not unleashed him yet either, although he had to work a little bit last week. I think it will set up for those two to be battling down the stretch. (7) REDLAND ROCKET MAN is who I will throw in to produce any kind of value. I know he hasn’t measured up to the top two, but he is visually impressive, and has the kick to finish in the money if he can work out a trip. Race 9: CANADIAN TROTTING CLASSIC FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $5,000 CDN $3,875 USD. (6) EMOTICON LEGACY looked like he was going to finish the job in the Simcoe regardless, but all doubts were turned away when Maryland made a break at the top of the stretch. He got a qualifier under his belt last week to keep him sharp, and I think he comes through again in a big money final. (4) FADEAWAY HANOVER held his own in the Simcoe, and comes out of the same qualifier that Emoticon Legacy does. J-Mac got a ton out of him in his last race, and could end up sitting the right trip to add some value to exactas. I’m not really sure what to do with (2) MARYLAND, who was sharp in his qualifier, yes, but now ships back to Mohawk where he broke for seemingly no reason. He could come back to his old form, sure, but I see no reason to take a risk like that on a horse that will be the obvious second choice and make the exacta pay 2-1 if you’re lucky. Race 10: MOHAWK MILLION: (GR 1). 2 YEAR OLD OPEN. (1) APEX was patiently handled in the Peter Haughton and was a measured winner in that major event. That came off the heels of two visually excellent wins at The Meadowlands. If he is able to get away in decent order from the rail, I think he should have every chance. (3) ARDONNE cruised to victory in the William Wellwood Final behind a slick drive from Scott Zeron. He took the step up to Grand Circuit company in stride, and Zeron even came up last week to qualify this horse, which says a lot in my opinion. (6) ENDURANCE has rattled off six wins in a row in Kentucky, but I don’t think that competition stacks up to the top ones that he has to face tonight. He draws perfectly and should be put into play, but I think there’s a chance that others shine just a little brighter in this spot and could outsprint him. Race 11: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,250 (OS $38,750) LIFETIME. (2) FIGMENT was just floated out on debut, but was able to work out a decent trip and stormed home in :26 3/5 to pull away from his rivals. I think he could work out a similar journey tonight and track down the leaders. (8) CAVIART SEACREST was involved in an early battle with a pumped colt and they ended up setting some wicked fractions. He was able to go on with it and produce a win in an eye-popping time. I have some restrictions, though. Are NW2 types really going to pace in sub-1:50 now? I know how good he looked at Rideau, but come on. He will be used, and likely singled, on most Pick-5 tickets. (1) BLAZING CRUISER was a sharp winner last week, and has enough gate speed to sit somewhat close to the pace. He is in career form right now and can finish in the money. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 12: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $57,000 (OS $62,500) LIFETIME. AE: 3 YR OLDS NW OF A RACE LAST 8 STARTS. (4) JOEL AND THE JETS was a very good second behind AyeAye Captain Deo after being shuffled back to fifth. He came to the outside and sprinted best of everyone to nearly catch that favorite. He has finished second in four straight starts, but the versatility he has shown has been excellent. (6) BOXER SEELSTER made a menacing first over challenge out of that same race, and ended up finishing third by less than a length. He has been putting up some big efforts without any wins coming his way. As has (7) BLUE BAR who I think has looked a little bit better since adding Lasix, but I’m unsure as to what trip he will get tonight. He has the ability late in the mile to close for a piece. Race 13: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS AE: NW $68,500 IN 2025 (MIN 15 STS). And, to end the night, it’s a mandatory payout in the Jackpot Hi-5! (5) AMERICAN HISTORY was a dominant winner in his return after a month off. The classy veteran showed that he still has an encore performance or two left in his holster, and now draws perfectly to try and do the same tonight. (4) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE gets a drop in class after an effort that should no doubt leave him tighter tonight. Jody Jamieson gives him the nod, and could get him back to his aggressive ways tonight. (2) WANNABEABIGSTAR always looms as a threatening closer, but hasn't been getting the job done consistently as of late, which resulted in an inflated price last week when he pulled off the upset. The pace will be fast enough to where he can pass plenty of rivals no matter where he is situated. (11) JACK PANIC has plenty of grinding ability, which is huge in a race where he is likely to be on the outside for a majority of the mile if he wants to get into contention. The second tier is always very tricky, but he could end up getting a piece. (6) LAKERS BANK got a nice drive from Louis Roy last week and came up just a half length short of odds on favorite Captain Fear Not. He has some solid gate speed that can get him into position to land somewhere on this Hi-5 ticket.