Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Saturday 9/5/26

Top Pick Stats: 471/1499 (-$790.90)

Best Bets: 57/135 (-$51.30); Spot Plays: 30/138 (-$95.00)

Best Bet: MONSERRATE (Race 4)

Spot Play: SNACK ATTACK (Race 12)

Early Pick-5: 6,9/1/4,7/3,6/1,6 $3.20

Middle Pick-5: 3,6/6,9/2,3,6/7/5,7 $4.80

Late Pick-5: 2,7/5,7/2/2/4,5,7 $2.40

Race 1: POP UP SERIES FINAL: STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $13,000 OR LESS L4 STARTS (WO $50,000 IN 2026 NE). AE: NA $2,200 PS IN 2026 (MIN 10 STARTS).

(6) CAPTAIN HURLEY should see this race set up better for him because his success comes mostly from off the pace. I’ll try him again. (9) JK BLACK GOLD took down Captain Hurley after a first over move which allowed him to tuck in the pocket behind that rival. I think he puts forth another quality effort. (3) FRANCO SANTANA N got picked off by Dad last week after trying to wire the field. His early speed should have him in the mix.

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Race 2: SIMCOE: (GR 3). 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $1,500 CDN ($1,150 USD).

(1) MOTHERS MONI has proven he can get around a bigger track and raced very well in what ended up being a tightener last week. I think Dunn gives him every chance. (5) STROBE LITE got back on track with a solid qualifier and should be right in the mix if he stays flat. (3) TOUCHEDBYANANGEL took down older horses in his latest and has enough gate speed to secure a good trip.

Race 3: NW $13,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $24,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW 8 RACES LIFETIME. AE: N/A $3,205 P/S IN 2025-2026.

(4) ALLSTAR MANIAC is fourth back now and has established that he is ready to keep it up against classy pacers on the grounds. (7) CODENAME CIGAR BOX was unable to keep up with the leaders in the final-quarter sprint but a class drop should help. I think a grinding move gets him in contention. (2) JACK PANIC has enough early gate speed to secure a decent early spot. He can make multiple moves and still come forward at the end.

Race 4: OPEN.

(3) MONSERRATE was a solid second in his first clean line since the Hambletonian Maturity. I expect him to be even better tonight. (6) MAJOR VELOCITY went a sharp down the road winner in his latest and is likely to be forwardly placed again given this draw. (9) LOGAN PARK tends to be the king of the Open at Mohawk but another miscue popped up in his Maple Leaf Trot elimination. We’ll see if he can rebound.

Race 5: MILTON STAKES FINAL: (GR 2). FILLIES & MARES 3 YEAR OLDS & OLDER. STARTING FEE: $1,500 CDN $1,150 USD.

(6) FRANCENT N made her mark when she shipped up and defeated most of these last week. The connections made the right call supplementing her to this race. (1) UNREASONABLE shipped up the week before and cruised to an easy victory. She always puts forth a quality effort against these types. (8) RODEO DRIVE DEO was flying late from off the pace and looks like she’s back in top form again, but she will need to work out a trip.

Race 6: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 4: 2 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $900 CDN ($700 USD).

(6) D A ALLJOKESASIDE gets a deserving shot against Gold company after posting a sharp rally to beat Grassroots foes. He still has upside potential. (3) GOGO GADGET adds Lasix after coming up short in his latest. It wouldn’t shock me if he rebounded with a win. (4) TH THEO has displayed some quick turn of foot as of late, but needs to put it all together. It could come here against a short field.

Race 7: OPEN.

(6) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR doesn’t have to chase the top Grand Circuit pacers tonight and I expect Bartlett to give him every chance given this draw. (9) CLEVER CODY more than held his own in his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination and could add value to exotics if he gets a trip. (7) DELRAY BEACH has tons of raw speed that could carry him a long way despite the class jump.

Race 8: MAPLE LEAF TROT FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLDS & OLDER.

(3) EMOTICON LEGACY really trotted nicely in the final eighth and was making up ground on (2) SUPER CHAPTER, albeit he was wrapped up. The former could be ready to strike for the big pot, while the latter will look to continue what he’s been doing against the top trotters of this division. (6) FRENCH WINE got a nice second over tow into the race and showed more than I thought he would bring second back. If he’s capable of stepping forward again, this could be his time.

Race 9: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 4: 2 YEAR OLD PACING FILLIES. STARTING FEE $900 CDN ($700 USD).

(7) WAVES OF FORTUNE edged away from her rivals last week and looks to keep the momentum rolling tonight. (2) TWIN B COPACABANA held on despite challenges from all angles last week. I felt that she still had to prove it to me that night, and she did. (11) JERSEY BULLDOG gets to follow a decent one from her second tier starting spot. A live outside flow could tow her into the mix.

Race 10: CANADIAN PACING DERBY FINAL: (GR 1). 3 YEAR OLDS & OLDER.

(5) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE has blossomed into a top Open pacer with his race in the elimination being the best I’ve ever seen him. He gets my nod. (7) AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO has the turn of foot to capitalize when the pace gets wicked. A couple of these could be feeling the effects after weeks of huge miles. (4) BEST CHIP got beat on the square by For Once Inmy Life but draws well and still deserves a long look.

Race 11: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 4: 2 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $900 CDN ($700 USD).

(2) ATLAS ROSS has yet to be defeated and I don’t see why that would change here. (6) BIG D ENERGY was best of the rest behind Shalom Hanover in his latest. His turn of foot likely carries him past rivals. (1) CATTLETRACKS has been getting better with each start and now makes the jump into Gold competition. I think he’ll do just fine.

Race 12: POP UP SERIES CONSOLATION: STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $13,000 OR LESS L4 STARTS (WO $50,000 IN 2026 NE). AE: NA $2,200 PS IN 2026 (MIN 10 STARTS). (11-20).

(2) SNACK ATTACK got shuffled out the back in his latest but was closing well once he angled outside. I wouldn’t mind seeing some gate speed this week. (4) PAC MAN HANOVER gets a big driver change after a trip around the track in his latest. He showed some high speed in the earlier days of summer. (7) LAKERS BANK also got shuffled in that race but didn’t have as much punch after that. I’ll use him underneath this week.

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Race 13: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000.

(4) DUBLIN DASHER gets his nose on the gate this week and that likely allows him to set up a quality trip. I’ll give him the nod. (5) UNCLE SHANK A tried to go down the road but got picked off late. Similar tactics are likely in play. (7) CHAIN GANG gets the nod from J-Mac. His turn of foot will be very dangerous if the leaders falter.