Top Pick Stats: 143/496 (-$266.90) Best Bets: 19/45 (-$12.50); Spot Plays: 14/47 (-$15.70) Best Bet: DISTANCE LEARNING (Race 10) Spot Play: FOREFATHER (Race 2) Early Pick-5: 2,8/1/7/7,8/1,5,8   $2.40 Late Pick-5: 2,3,7/6/4/4,6,7/8   $1.80 Race 1: POP UP SERIES CONSOLATION: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $7,500. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (2) YOURTHEONE gets a big post switch when racing off the claim and finds a group that he could take all the way. J-Mac gives him the nod. (8) BETTORHOLDONTIGHT has been getting around the Mohawk oval just fine and should have every chance to secure a good trip if he leaves out. (6) JITTERBUG FLIP is a grinder who keeps getting checks. Borth could take advantage if most to his inside don’t leave out. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $10,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,155 P/S IN 2025-2026. AE: NW $100 LAST 3 STARTS. (1) FOREFATHER sneaks into this short field and finds a couple of main contenders that don’t love to finish. A live helmet makes him very dangerous. (5) MYULTIMATE SNOWY A made multiple moves before the half and logically tired as a result. He is usually in the mix, but doesn’t like to win. (2) SERGEANT SLAUGHTER didn’t get a fair chance last week after being shuffled. He was going backwards late, but I think J-Mac knew his chances were cooked after no room materialized. He can rebound tonight. Race 3: NW $6,000 LAST 4 OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STS (W/O $15,000 L 8 STS N/E) AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. AE: 4 YO NW $31,000 IN 2026(MIN 8 STS) AE: NW $65,500 IN 2025-26. (7) PENNTELLER HANOVER was patiently handled in his first start back, and then found himself with nowhere to go in the stretch. A step forward means he likely wins by a wrapped up four at odds on. (5) KEVIN ANTHONY was a strong winner on the drop in class last week. He had been holding his own at this level previously and could stalk the leader all the way if he leaves out. (2) COVER BAND is difficult to trust at the moment, but we know what he is capable of when on his game. I would expect patient handling early. Race 4: CLAIMING HANDICAP $18,000 TO $24,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (8) BETTOR B GOING was likely going to win here two back, but was scratched. Last week’s effort was solid against tougher claimers, and there’s enough early speed that should set him up. (7) CANT STOP LOU has been sharp for the new barn, and dug in very gamely to get the job done last week. McClure has driven him well. (3) BAYFIELD BEACH once again made multiple moves last week, and he was making up ground while three wide against the top two finishers. I’ll look for his string of thirds to continue. Race 5: POP UP SERIES FINAL: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $7,500. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (MUST RACE IN 2 LEGS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO FINAL). (5) TELLIT RUSS TELLIT posted his best win of the season last week, and should be just fine off the claim for similar top connections. (8) EARLY PLAY showed a new dimension last week and ended up getting a perfect setup in front of him. The fractions should be to his liking. (1) RAYS KREDIT has been sharp in this series and has late kick similar to Early Play. Those two can get into the mix with any trip. Race 6: HORSES THAT STARTED FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS IN LAST 6 STARTS AE: 4 YEAR OLDS NW $17,500 LAST 8 STS. (2) SOUTHWIND DOMINO found himself in a perfect spot last week and pulled off a major upset when the favorite didn’t fire. His gate speed has kept him in the mix for many weeks now. His price is gone, but I’ll go in his direction. (7) SEEKING SALVATION is a mare that is still developing, but she could benefit if the early speed types mix it up. She could add value to exotics. (3) PASSARINO is off to a strong start this year, but I question how consistently he can fire his fastball on the bigger track, especially with others who have that same quality. Race 7: NW $1,000 LAST 4 OR $6,000 LAST 8 STARTS (W/O $7,500 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: N/A $1,020 P/S IN 2026. AE: NW $100 IN 2026. (6) SOUTHSIDE EDDY is likely to pace this group off its feet. He shouldn’t face any real resistance getting to the lead, and if he presses the pedal, I struggle to see who catches him. (5) MAJOR FERNCO N seems like the next best option if he can hang with Eddy the entire way. I can see him trying to stay latched to that one’s helmet. (2) SKYLAR got a good steer from Roy two starts ago at his level. He stuck around for a big piece after making two moves. He fits here. Race 8: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $27,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW 7 RACES LIFETIME. (4) AMAZING CATCH was stuck behind the heavy favorite last week with nowhere to go in the stretch. I would think J-Mac tries to get the lead and avoid trip trouble. (2) WILLYS HOME RUN is steadily improving with each start back and comes off a sharp win where she got a perfect trip. She looms as a threat to do that again. (3) RIGHT HERE HANOVER got a good drive by McClure last week in what basically turned into a final quarter sprint. It was an encouraging return for a horse who had a sharp three-year-old season. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: NW $1,000 LAST 4 OR $6,000 LAST 8 STARTS (W/O $7,500 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: N/A $1,020 P/S IN 2026. AE: NW $100 IN 2026. (6) THAI TOUR ran into a top-heavy field last week, where the top two were by far the ones to beat. He was a best of the rest third, though, and has the gate speed to potentially wire this field. (4) BRUDON has been a project type over the last 18 months, but he paced home well in his two starts this year. I think he has a chance to show more this week and add value to exotics. (7) SOUTHWIND SAMBUCCA has more versatility than others in here, but is another who is hard to trust given the 0-for-12 record to start his season. Race 10: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $90,000 LIFETIME. (8) DISTANCE LEARNING comes out of the aforementioned Sid The Kid race that turned into a final quarter sprint. He angled out three wide and was making up ground on the horses in front of him, even if only slightly. I think he can convert on the drop in class. (5) TACTICAL STRIKE was locked in until midway down the stretch, but was trotting home well when that opening materialized. She was favored last week at this level. I wasn’t sure what to do with (3) GHOSTLY CASPER, who has felt pretty stale at Mohawk over the last few months. He was going to win at Buffalo before jumping it off. The drop in class should help.