Top Pick Stats: 76/244 (-$112.00) Best Bets: 7/22 (-$16.40); Spot Plays: 10/23 ($11.60) Best Bet: SAFE CONDUCT (Race 9) Spot Play: TELLIT RUSS TELLIT (Race 3) Early Pick-5: 4,5/4,6,7/8/5,7/10   $2.40 Late Pick-5: 1,8/3,9/2,5/1/1,4,9   $4.80 Race 1: CLAIMING HANDICAP $12,000 TO $16,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (4) ALWAYS B SWEETEST gets a fair shot at the next claiming level after three straight wins, and the horses who have been at this level haven’t exactly been the most consistent. (5) MAKEMEALEGEND showed enough punch in the lane where I thought he could rebound. He has the gate speed to be able to sit a stalking trip. (8) BRAEVIEW BONDI A is a classy veteran who was just even in his return qualifier behind some tough horses. This is a good spot for him, but he may need a couple starts to get back to form. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: FILLIES & MARES CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $7,500 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. I’ll finally take the jump with (7) ANNA’S WISH who has been her own worst enemy at times. However, there’s no denying that this is a much better spot for her. I hope she can mind her manners. (4) TELLS BELLS had to settle for second behind big favorite My Only Sunshine last week. She has the gate speed to work out another good trip. (6) MUCHTOOYOUNGFORYOU got Jamieson’s nod but never got past Tells Bells two starts ago. She has strolled in two of her last three against weaker stock in London. Race 3: POP UP SERIES CONSOLATION: STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $50,000 IN 2025 NE). AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). (8) TELLIT RUSS TELLIT was a solid third last week which came off the heels of a two-move effort in the Pop-Up Series. This consolation seems like his spot to strike. (2) BUDDYVILLE comes off a try from the back where he was never going to make up the necessary ground. He adds Lasix this week and could provide a bit more punch than normal if he gets the right trip. (1) HOWYOUPLAY THEGAME is a bit of a mystery to me after his failed first-over blitz attempt resulted in him fading back to fourth. Others often have more in the late stages. Race 4: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $14,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. (7) SUNDAY SHOES certainly wasn’t at his best last week, but this is a sharp drop in class that should allow him to wake up if he is good to go. (5) DESERT HAYZ was beaten by half a dozen when in this class two starts ago, but if he is activated earlier and finds a helmet to follow, he could add some value to exotics. (3) BELLA CAVALLA has been better from off the pace in recent weeks, and I wouldn’t really mind a first over trip from her because she usually sustains her moves. Race 5: POP UP SERIES FINAL: STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $50,000 IN 2025 NE). AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). (10) MADAM X is 3-for-3 this year and has put away her rivals in both legs of this Pop-Up Series. The high draw could get tricky if all of the gate speed just to her inside makes itself known, but I think she completes the sweep regardless. (8) BEACH TOUR has produced two good second place finishes in this series and has the versatility where he doesn’t need to be as involved in the early battle. (1) PUNCHESINBUNCHES has been much better on the big track this time around. He looms as an overlay with a chance. Race 6: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $5,500 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (1) SEAFARER made his Canadian debut after some recent tries in Illinois and looked like he fit in just fine at this level. I’ll give him the nod in his Mohawk debut. (8) TANGO SEELSTER had just one win last season but had a stretch back in May where he was always in the mix. The thing that has plagued him forever is his lack of gate speed. At some point, you have to pull the trigger. Racing from last in his second start back just won’t do it. (4) ARAGONITE went down the road last week and now gets slight post relief. He might have an easy trip on the lead again. Race 7: CLAIMING HANDICAP $18,000 TO $24,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (3) SERIOUSLY HANOVER was a good winner in his return to racing and was on the outside for a fair amount of the mile. The post switch should allow him to work out a similar trip if J-Mac wants. (9) VERTICAL SQUIRT was bet like he was going to perform, and he did. That’s now two wins at this level, and last week’s two move effort shows that he isn’t just a one trick pony. (4) SHANES DREAM tried to make two moves from the high draw last week, and that was just too much for him. The post relief should make a difference. Race 8: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $5,500 LAST 4 STARTS. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (5) FULL CREDIT has been frequently beaten in recent weeks when trying to sit up close, but it’s hard to imagine who else leaves out besides him. (2) LETS GET PICKLED drops in class this week and gets major post relief. He made a rare break last week which can be excused. (3) MACH IMPACT loses the services of Louis Roy, but gets post relief which should allow him to get away in decent order. This is the spot for the veteran to get back to form if it’s going to happen. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: OPEN. (1) SAFE CONDUCT got back to the winner’s circle last week with a perfect trip. If he can get away well enough from the rail, I would expect a similar trip and result tonight. It’s well documented that (2) PEMBERTON is a horse who attracts more because of his name value, but he was a decent winner last week, and he has the ability late in the mile to sit inside and win the sprint home against a couple rivals. (3) MR BLUEBIRD continues to race well at the top level and can sustain his move when he works first over. Race 10: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $26,500 LAST 8 STARTS.  AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $120,000 LIFETIME. AE: N/A $3,015 P/S IN 2025-26. (1) DISTANCE LEARNING drops back to a similar level where he was a winner three starts ago from post eight. He has worked his way up the class ladder successfully. (4) DEVILS ARCH got Louis Roy in the bike last week and worked out a perfect trip. He draws well and should have every chance to win again. (9) WHITE TIGER continues to sustain his moves from off the pace and shouldn’t be bothered by another outside post. He is logical anywhere on the ticket.