Top Pick Stats: 176/534 (-$194.70) Best Bets: 19/48 (-$22.80); Spot Plays: 9/49 (-$52.50) Best Bet: AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO (Race 8) Spot Play: PACINO HANOVER (Race 3) Early Pick-5: 1,9,10/5/6,7/2/2,4   $2.40 Middle Pick-5: 6/5,8/1/2,4/3,5   $1.60 Late Pick-5: 1/2,4/3,5/3,5/3,6,10   $4.80 Race 1: NW $9,900 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $60,000 LIFETIME. (1) BLUE HUNT should appreciate the drop in class and has a post edge on his class-dropping rivals. He shouldn’t have to sprint as hard early and a quarter move could be in the cards to try and take them the rest of the way. (9) HEAD HONCHO finished just over a length behind in his latest in what proved to be an extremely competitive race. He continues to consistently pump out good finishes. (10) FRANCO SANTANA N has been excellent this season, but this is his biggest test to date, and is made no easier with the widest post draw. (2) MYULTIMATE SNOWY A has yet to pick up a win this season but is rounding back into form, and now draws a much better post. He can get into the flow and close for a share. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (5) BOLD SPIRIT has been razor sharp as of late, and still managed to hit the board despite being on the outside for a long time from post eight. He should be able to get to the lead easily in this short field and look to take them the distance. (6) HIGHLANDBEACHLOVER was unable to sustain a speed try from post nine in his latest. I wonder how much the win three starts ago took out of him, but he should still be able to leave out and potentially sit the pocket. (3) FOREFATHER came from well back to finish a strong third last week. He is likely to be up against the pace scenario if any second quarter breather takes place, but he can still hit the board again. (4) CENTURY INSPECTOR gets away from Dirty Lil Piglet, but comes off a sick scratch. He could easily finish higher than this if ready to go tonight. Race 3: NW $15,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $28,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $115,000 LIFETIME. (7) PACINO HANOVER got swift fractions in front of him to chase, and was able to get the job done after vaulting off cover in the stretch. That ended up being a perfect setup for a horse who loves to race from off the pace and sprint late. I think a similar trip can happen and he can repeat at a square number. (6) ITS MAJOR MAJOR A had some questions to answer after the anomaly which was the Gold Cup & Saucer. He ended up getting a perfect tightener in last week’s Open pace, which could see him rebound very nicely tonight. He deserves a long look. (4) ROCHESTER FLASH stepped up to this level last week and held his own, only losing by three lengths. He has the speed on both ends of the mile to sit close and get a good piece at a price. (3) JACK PANIC tends to work from off the pace when stepping up to this level, but could end up using some gate speed off the car tonight. He can hold on for a piece. Race 4: SIMCOE: (GR 3). 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $1,000 CND.  ($775 US). (2) ALLSTAR MANIAC wasn’t getting caught last week even if they went around again. That was despite being forced three wide at the quarter. He would likely have five wins in a row if he didn’t hook wheels two starts ago. I think he will win again. (7) CRACK SHOT did everything he could to try and catch Allstar Maniac, but came up short. He finished a strong second and can do so again tonight. (4) TH KAY C CRUNCH got a potential confidence boosting win last week after many tries as the beaten favorite. He is the wild card here. (1) CONTROL ROCKS could shake things up if he blasts hardest of all from the rail. He has the speed and stakes experience to be a potential pocket trip candidate. Race 5: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5000 LAST 8 STARTS. (W/O $10,750 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,275 P/S IN 2025. (4) MOMAS SON BYRNE may still be a work in progress. He was off the screen as they approached the final turn and very wide when closing in the stretch, but he was moving well despite all of that in what was his first start since May. His regular pilot returns to the bike tonight. We’ll see how good he is tonight. I’ll take a chance. (2) THE VICAR gets a big drop in class that should see him rebound. He made a rare miscue in his latest which can be forgiven, and now draws a much better post. If he works out a trip, he can get a big piece. (7) LETS GET ROCKED got a perfect trip in his latest and eventually went by, with nobody getting up from behind. I would expect another forward move off the car. (8) RIPASSO was an okay fifth in his Mohawk debut. He could step forward tonight, but will need to be closer to the pace. Race 6: CHAMPLAIN STAKES: (GR 3). 2 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $1,500 CDN ($1,150 USD). (6) TILTHECOWSCOMEHOME was completely locked in behind Beau Jangles and didn’t have the opportunity to completely show if he could chase that rival down. Luckily, he gets away from Mr. Jangles for a week and should have every chance. (5) SWEET LOVIN LOU got a second over tow into the race and was making a menacing move, but Tilthecowscomehome was able to sneak between horses and get the job done. He is a versatile colt who has the talent to stick with the top tier of Canada’s freshman pacers. (2) WINDOR is racing sneaky good against Canada’s top types and is dancing most of the dances. He can sit a close trip and outsprint rivals late to get a piece. (4) REDLAND ROCKET MAN is another who remains consistent, albeit consistently behind Beau Jangles. Interested to see what kind of trip he gets with McClure returning to the bike. He knew just how much this horse had on debut. Race 7: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $50,000 (OS $76,500) LIFETIME. AE: 3 YEAR OLDS NW 2 RACES LAST 8 STARTS. (8) OUT OF ICE has been razor sharp in recent weeks, stringing together three easy wins. He has been all or nothing this season. I’ll look for him to win again. (5) GRIN AND WIN has the 0-for-14 record looming over him, but he has been racing well when up close and continues to add value in exotics. I’ll look for him to do the same tonight. (6) SOS SPORTS BET has been well supported in two straight starts, and has backed it up with wins. He draws the perfect post to leave out from and should have options when approaching the opening quarter. (3) SILVERWALLS is a nice horse, but is one that I still contend needs more to go his way than others. I’ll slot him underneath tonight. Race 8: SIMCOE: (GR 3). 3 YEAR OLD OPEN. STARTING FEE: $1,000 CDN  ($775 US). (1) AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO was an impressive third last week after being mired in traffic and having to swing wide in the stretch. He should be even better coming into tonight and hopefully stays out of traffic trouble. (5) FIFTH AND FIVE continued his winning ways in last week’s Gold event. He faces a different bunch tonight, but they are rivals who he has seen and beaten in the past. (4) JOEL AND THE JETS has come up short in three straight efforts, but is still sharp and deserves a look. Hard to see him not winning one in the near future. (6) D A LOVE BOAT was bet down to be the odds on favorite last week, and showed why. He dismantled an overnight group, and should be brimming with confidence tonight after that win. Race 9: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $40,500) LIFETIME. (2) YS FLOWERNUMBERTEN only lost by a length after a speed try from the rail when adding Lasix for the first time. I would look for her to step forward tonight in her second start on Lasix and get the job done. (4) BRITTAS BEST BET has strung together three wins in a row, including a new career best three starts ago. Bob McClure gets the call in her return to Mohawk and could work out a winning trip if front end speed falters. (6) ETERNAL DELIGHT was able to get a share when stepping up to the Gold ranks. Doug McNair gets the call tonight and should have her in a contending spot when turning for home. (3) WINDSUN CHARLOTTE should have taken a step forward last week, especially with a pocket trip, but faltered in the stretch. I’ll look for her to rebound slightly and get a piece. Race 10: PREFERRED 2. (5) CALICOJACK HANOVER produced a career-best win in his first start back. The move to the front didn’t take too much out of him and he held on from there. He should be sharper tonight and makes sense as a repeat candidate. (3) CENTURY KOMODO got a great drive from Jason Bartlett last week in a tough Open pace. He has the speed to win against this group, but will need the right trip. (6) ARBITRAGE HANOVER produced a strong late rally to only lose to Calicojack Hanover by half a length. He is likely to work from off the pace again and close for a piece. (4) TAURASI had a tough trip in that aforementioned Open pace and didn’t end up losing by too many lengths, but faded back to last. He could turn back the clock tonight, but I wouldn’t count on it. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 11: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. (3) MAGICAL BET has been extremely consistent at Kawartha Downs. He returns to Mohawk where he has not been seen since the middle of May. Leading driver James Macdonald gets the call tonight and can easily get more out of him on the big track. (5) ASIAGO SEELSTER has two wins in his last two tries at the NW2 level. The Grassroots level is just a little too much for him, but I would expect another strong effort tonight. (2) IM A PAPI HANOVER is a solid underneath use on exotic tickets in most of his starts. He makes sense when getting post relief, but hasn’t punched through yet to show us winning form. (6) BLAZING CRUISER got the job done last week at Georgian Downs after an overland trip. We’ll see if he can remain consistent from week to week as September starts. Race 12: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS AE: NA/ $1,790 P/S IN 2024-2025. (3) FORTIFY tried to make two moves into a hot pace but ended up fading back to fifth in last Saturday’s opener. I would expect a quarter move if he is let go as the favorite and for him to take the field the rest of the way from there. (6) DELIGHTFUL LEADER was a surprise second place finisher at almost 70/1 in his latest. J-Mac sticks and could work out an overland trip to spice up exotics again. (10) RESPECT OUR FLAG has done damage in the past when working from off the pace, and if the pace gets spicy up front, it wouldn’t shock me if he is ranging up and passing plenty of horses. (1) HP LIS SHADOW has found his spot at Grand River, winning three in a row and avoiding horses like Dirty Lil Piglet and Rochester Flash. If he is aggressively handled from the rail, I could see him sitting a cozy trip and grabbing a bigger piece. (2) NAZARE has been just okay in recent starts. He has some gate speed that could be used. I can see him sitting an inside trip and finishing tonight’s Hi-5.