2025 Top Pick Stats: 394/1144 (-$414.50) Best Bets: 49/102 ($8.70); Spot Plays: 21/102 (-$52.00) Best Bet: MAJOR FERNCO N (Race 6) Spot Play: NEW RULES (Race 9) Early Pick-5: 2,4,8/4/2,6/2,7,8/3,4,5   $10.80 Late Pick-5: 7/3,5,7/2,8/6/5   $1.20 Race 1: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $28,750 LAST 8 STARTS.  AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $110,000 LIFETIME. (8) R PEAKY BLINDERS made multiple moves en route to a nice second place finish last week. I would look for him to try a blast and last move this time. (4) MANOAH put in his best performance since shipping North of the border, and now finds a spot where he can leave out and track from up close. He fits here. (2) KADIDDLE looked like she was going to show even more with leading driver James Macdonald in the bike, but spoiled her chances with an early break. I’ll use her underneath tonight. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: CLAIMING HANDICAP $18,000 TO $24,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (4) NOLAUGHINGSTOCK has gotten a couple of tighteners under his belt, and now races off the claim with a much better post draw. I would expect him to be much more involved tonight, and I’ll give him the nod. (8) CODE CRACKER just got picked off in the final few strides in his latest after a speed try. Assuming the last two trips haven’t taken too much out of him, he should be dangerous again with a forward trip. (5) REMEMBER THE BEACH is likely to hit the board because of his early gate speed. J-Mac has gotten enough out of him to hit the ticket in his last three. I don’t see that changing here. Race 3: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $8,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,155 P/S IN 2025. AE: 4 YR OLDS N/A $1,340 P/S LAST 8 STARTS. (2) PERFETTO is one of the more difficult trotters to read on the grounds, but even I have to concede that he towers over this field. He is the clear standout. (6) MUSCLE FASHION was a sharp winner three starts ago with J-Mac in the bike. He should be on the move in the early stages. If anyone can upset the classy ML favorite, it’s him. (4) MASTERWORK brings a three race win streak into tonight. If he can mind his manners, he should be able to hit the ticket. Race 4: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $5,000 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (7) ID IMAGINE was one of a few horses who tried to capitalize off a wicked pace last week. He made up significant ground, but had to settle for an underneath spot. He fits much better at this level and should be able to grind into contention. (8) MACHO POLO is rounding into decent form, and comes off a front-end score at Flamboro. J-Mac could get a bit more out of him tonight. (2) RAYS KREDIT is obvious on paper, but susceptible. He had just one win last season, and his style does not allow him to string wins together. Race 5: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $22,250 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: N/A $2,120 P/S IN 2025. (3) PATRIARCH HANOVER got a tightener last week, and now gets his familiar pilot back in the bike. I think he will be forwardly placed tonight and can show his back class. (4) DEVILS ARCH races off the claim after a similar tightener. These top two could easily be the quickest off the car. (5) CAPTAIN WANIA just missed last week and gets a more than capable catch driver with McNair choosing the #3. Any one of these three could wind up getting the perfect trip in here. Race 6: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $7,300 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $5,000 IN 2025. It’s difficult to look past the two obvious class droppers. (7) MAJOR FERNCO N was heavy in the “win or bust” department last year, but he hasn’t been terrible against tougher claimers. I’ll give him the nod with a front-end trip. (3) HIGHLANDBEACHLOVER has been better in his last two efforts, and could be prepped for a speed try if Thiessen gets aggressive. (1) BEACHIN LINDY still has some pop left in him, and frequently gets himself into contention with a grinding move. He adds Lasix tonight and can get a piece. Race 7: CLAIMING HANDICAP $8,000 TO $11,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (5) BRYANT SEELSTER moves back to the Ross Battin barn after a sharp third place finish from post ten. J-Mac got plenty out of him last week; He should be a contender if put in play. (3) KJ OWEN looked like he was sitting on a winning effort, but needed the right trip, and he got it at a gigantic number. His price will shrink, but he is logical. (7) LETS GET PICKLED continues to shine at this level after multiple weeks of grinding out strong finishes. He is a horse that you don’t want to leave off of multi-leg tickets. Race 8: NW $1,100 LAST 4 STARTS (W/O $12,500 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: N/A $900 P/S IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). (2) ELLIOT MOOSE is the horse I defaulted to because I trust him to get an aggressive steer and be in a contending spot. I’m not sure how much faith I can put into others here, which could result in this race blowing up if the ML favorite isn’t on his game. (8) WELLWORTHTHEWAIT has been holding his own against tougher horses at Rideau, and got J-Mac’s nod over two others. I would expect him to take significant support. (6) CRUNCH HANOVER is a perfect example of a horse I can’t quite trust. Is he a “down the road” prospect? Sure, but maybe not without his familiar pilot. Race 9: OPEN. (6) NEW RULES took no prisoners last week on the drop in class, and he looked excellent when winning by three lengths. If another aggressive steer is in the cards, he could upset. (3) HASTY BID had to settle for second behind Logan Park, who isn’t here this time around. He should be forwardly placed again and could trip out. (5) SAFE CONDUCT hasn’t raced in over a month now, but the recent form speaks for itself. I can see him passing horses late and getting a piece. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: FILLIES & MARES CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $6,750 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (5) MY ONLY SUNSHINE changed tactics last week and demolished a similar field. A repeat picture looms large. (8) LATTE SEELSTER comes off two nice wins, but has to navigate a tough post tonight. I would expect her to at least float out tonight and finish second best. (3) DOLLYDAYDREAM can get a piece if she stays closer to the pack. She has decent grinding ability and can pass some tired horses. Race 11: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,750 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,755 P/S IN 2025. (5) DISTANCE LEARNING needed last week’s start after being off for over a month. I’ll give him the nod to step forward in a big way in tonight’s wide open finale. (6) VICTOR INVICTUS was better last week with J-Mac in the bike and in her first start on Lasix. She could also step forward and get the job done. (4) MEDLEY SEELSTER hasn’t quite been showing enough to allow me to pull the trigger, but she did finish second two starts ago at this level.