Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Sunday 2/1

Top Pick Stats: 41/129 (-$49.60)

Best Bets: 4/11 (-$6.10); Spot Plays: 6/12 ($10.70)

Best Bet: MR BLUEBIRD (Race 9)

Spot Play: VICTOR INVICTUS (Race 4)

Early Pick-5: 3,6/3/7/6,8,9/4,6 $2.40

Late Pick-5: 1,5,6/3,7/3,8/5/3,10 $4.80

Race 1: POP UP SERIES: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $50,000 IN 2025 INELIGIBLE). AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS) LEG 1.

(3) BEACH TOUR hasn’t been on the most consistent schedule, but his recent trips have put him nowhere close regardless. A speed try could be looming. (6) BETTOR B GOING wrapped up his 2025 season with a solid third place finish. He appears well spotted off the claim. (4) WINCHESTER PHOENIX is a usual suspect on the ticket with his grinding ability. He can add some value underneath.

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Race 2: NW $15,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $24,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $100,000 LIFETIME.

I can’t justify the likely price on (3) PEMBERTON, but I will give him credit for how he was closing in the stretch. The pace was slow, but he was moving best of all. (2) DEVILS ARCH was gapping from the pocket last week, but got back into it when Manoah came back to the field. He should be forwardly placed again. (1) TACTICAL STRIKE takes on the boys again after last week’s first over move that saw her eventually draw away. Her versatility makes her a threat to hit the board.

Race 3: POP UP SERIES: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $50,000 IN 2025 INELIGIBLE). AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS) LEG 1.

(7) MADAM X didn’t have many anxious moments last week. J-Mac knew what he had, and that was after being off since September. Hard to see her not stepping forward. (3) NIGHTIME DANCER was a decent fourth in his first start off the bench. He does okay around the Mohawk oval. Galliers could let patience pay off this week. (9) TELLIT RUSS TELLIT comes off two strong wins in London, but will have to work out a trip from the high draw. His price will be right.

Race 4: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,285 P/S IN 2025-26. AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $8,800 LAST START.

(8) VICTOR INVICTUS has been better since the claim, and didn’t get his kind of trip last week. Some more gate speed could help him this time around. It seems strange to say a horse that won five back needs a wake up, but (6) ALL GAS NO BRAKES was losing ground last week after tracking a slow pace. The drop in class should help. (9) DELCREST BRENT has an advantage in the winter months when the front end isn’t holding up quite as well. Post doesn’t matter for him, because he will work from the back and pass horses late.

Race 5: WINNERS OF 3 (FM 4) BUT NOT MORE THAN 5 (FM 6) OR $80,000 (OS $100,500) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $80,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE.

(6) COVER BAND finds a nice middle ground after a trip around the track against much tougher trotters. J-Mac should have him in a stalking spot. (4) WILDTURKEY HANOVER got a perfect trip two starts ago, and it resulted in an open-length win. You would think he would be given more chances like that. (1) CHIC CHOC ROSE continued her string of strong finishes after managing to finish a best-of-the-rest second to Devastate. She is hard to leave off tickets.

Race 6: FILLIES & MARES CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE.

(5) HOT COE COE draws perfectly after a successful speed try. She should be able to work out a good trip again this week. (1) FIRST FILLY CHIP could add some value to the exacta, but she hasn’t raced in a few weeks. I would expect a patient drive. (6) ANNAS WISH is in desperate need of a wake up, and now drops in for 8K. The tote board and will pays will tell us plenty about her chances.

Race 7: POP UP SERIES: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $50,000 IN 2025 INELIGIBLE). AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS) LEG 1.

(3) HAZEE COAST gets a key driver change after being in the mix for some checks in London. This race is wide open, and I think he will offer a decent price. (7) HOUND ON THE BEACH was a sharp winner in his latest after a speed try. J-Mac gives him the nod and should give him a good trip. (5) OUTLAWGRANDETORINO was a good second in his latest after making two moves. Galliers fits well with him.

Race 8: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $15,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,715 P/S OR NW $49,500 IN 2025-26 (MIN 10 STARTS).

I felt like a robber when (8) WHITE TIGER nailed the leaders at 6-1. If there is more early speed than I predict, he will be in an even better spot. (3) PASSARINO has had trouble sustaining speed tries in the past, but his form is hard to ignore at the moment. We’ll know by this point how the track is playing. (4) SPARKS FLY is another early speed type that likes to battle. He can hang on for a piece.

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Race 9: OPEN.

(5) MR BLUEBIRD just missed in the last edition of the Open trot. I’ll give him the nod this week with likely another good trip. (4) HASTY BID’s recent results speak for themselves. J-Mac knows the horse well and understands he is better when stalking. (2) SAFE CONDUCT is back relatively quickly after being involved in the accident with Usain Hanover. I would expect a patient drive this week.

Race 10: CLAIMING HANDICAP $18,000 TO $24,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000.

It’s hard to read the return of (3) LETS GET ROCKED after a few weeks off, but I think he got enough out of that race. The pace was wicked, and he wasn’t involved. I think he steps forward. (10) KYLES ART gets a drop in class, but will have to navigate the high draw. Henry should be aggressive in the early stages. (7) EXOTIC SAND went way too fast last week and logically faded as a result. He races off the claim this week for a barn that typically has them ready, but how much will he rebound?