Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Thursday 1/4

Top Pick Stats: 2 – 10 / $5.10 (-$14.90)

Best Bets: 1 – 1 / $2.30 (+$0.30)

Spot Plays: 0 – 1 / $0 (-$2.00)

Best Bet: MCVERA (10TH)

Spot Play: XTRA CHEESE (4TH)

Early Pick 5: 5,6,10/4,5,6/1,7/2,5/4,5,6,8 = $28.80

Late Pick 5: 6,10/8,9/4,5/4,5,7/6,9 = $9.60

Early Pick 4: 2,5/4,5,6,8/6,10/8,9 = $6.40

Late Pick 4: 8,9/4,5/4,5,7/6,9 = $4.80

Race 1: 5YO and younger NW1 or $7,000 LT **$100,000 GTD Pick 5**

(6) KING FURY makes his first start for Gillis who bought him for himself, and Macdonald sticks with him. There are no superstars in this field and it wouldn’t be surprising if he went straight to the front and jogged. (10) ARCHIMEDES finished well in both of his last two, but he was under no urging down the lane. He might be the best in here, but what price would you accept from post 10? (5) HANDSOME HANK raced much better than expected from post 9 last week and now he draws better. He is worth a look here. (2) JONNY BOOTS is always a good one to use underneath it seems.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: F&M CLM HDCP $14,000 to $16,000

(5) GOLDIES ROCKIN tired on the front-end racing over a good track on a night where only three winners held the lead at the 3/4 pole. I think she rebounds here at a better price. (4) DARKRSHADEOFPALE N, winner of two of her last three at this level, draws well again and she should be the one to hold off late; using. (6) ALWAYS B A STAR, nailed late by the choice last week, is the other one to consider for early Pick 5 tickets. (7) GOLDEN LEADER will likely flash speed and stick around for a share in this spot.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Mohawk Park card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: F&M CLM HDCP $20,000 to $30,000

(7) THE TURNING POINT raced well in defeat in her first start here despite missing three weeks and Macdonald chooses her over (1) B ON THE HUNT, the other obvious contender in the race. Nod goes to the former, but the latter shipped in, took a ton of action and jogged, so she is a threat to repeat. (6) VOOM VOOM should improve dropping out of the Niagara series and she should be good for a share. (4) ULTRA is racing well but she was no match for B On The Hunt last week; small share predicted.

Race 4: CLM $20,000 for NW $50,000 LT Pick 4

(5) XTRA CHEESE couldn’t close into a 1:52 1/5 mile racing over a good track but he did finish evenly, and he stacks up well vs. these. I’ll side with him in this third start out of the Barrington barn. (2) BETS SHOW OFF should get another good trip racing near the front and he should be the main threat. (8) BIG BULLY was only 16-1 starting from post 9 racing off the claim despite showing nothing at 96-1 at the same level two starts back and I suppose that was a tell. He stole a 59-flat middle 1/2 in that race and I’m inclined to try to beat him now in a race where he will be one of the favorites. (1) BETTORHOLDONTIGHT qualified well for this return and he is worth a look for the bottom of the exotics.

Race 5: F&M CLM $8,000

(8) A SHAM OF AMBER was even money racing against males in London on New Year’s Eve and she could only get 3rd, but she stacks up better against mares tonight; top call. (5) HIGH ROLLING A arrives from Flamboro in solid form, and she gets sent out by a high percentage barn. She should be right there vs. these. (4) BLACK BETTY is no stranger to this track having taken eight of her 20 wins here and she is worth using in multi-race tickets at a price. (6) GYPSY MERLOT has gate speed and Macdonald; that makes her a threat.

Race 6: 5YO and younger NW2 (F&M3) or $20,000 LT Pick 5

(6) LOOKS LIKE GAME ON was a victim of pace last week. With McNair in the bike, I think he gets more aggressive now and he gets the job done. (10) ETERNALLY HANOVER raced well on return and Macdonald chooses her over the choice. She is the obvious threat. (7) C S GOLDPOLICY raced decently on the lead on Boxing Day and he should be part of the exotics in this spot. (4) MVN took nine slices in 25 starts last year. She’s a good one to use on the bottom of Tri and Super bets.

Race 7: F&M CLM HDCP $10,000 to $12,000 Pick 4

(9) SHAKEITIFYOUGOTIT, claimed out of a win by Fellows, and (8) HILLBILLY JET, who was a close 3rd that night, likely battle for the win here. I’ll give a slight nod to the former and use both in the multis. (6) PROUD OF MY ROOTS is around the money in virtually every start and she should be part of the Tri. (5) DEL DIGGITY had a good 2023 and he is another that takes frequent shares that should be in the exotics mix.

Race 8: CLM $20,000 for NW $33,250 LT

(5) HESTONATOR’s first start here wasn’t bad considering he had missed a month. He will be sharper now and Macdonald sticks with him; top call. (4) THE SERPENT should last longer on the engine this time assuming the track is playing fair; Exacta factor. (2) ARTHUR SHELBY is making a habit of finishing 3rd and he can round out another Tri in this spot. (3) SKY LOW LOW likely closes late for another slice, and he can better this prediction with a good trip.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 9: F&M 4YO and younger NW1 or $7,500 LT

(5) THIRD TIME LUCKY and (7) HOT COE COE had the misfortune of running into a filly who could be any kind last week. These two will likely battle for the win here. (4) SKYE VELOCITY blasted off from post 10 in that same race and she should be a speed threat. She is the third one to consider for the multis. (3) JACINDA should be good for another small share in this spot.

Race 10: F&M CLM $20,000 for NW $35,500 LT

(9) MCVERA showed some grit last week outpacing her rivals late for a narrow win and she gets the call to repeat. (6) MISS MAYCEE got a tough trip when 4th to the choice. She could bridge the gap here with a better trip; using. (2) MISS DEW WRITE was used hard early on a tiring track and she understandably stopped. I think she sits a trip here and takes a share. (1) POP THE BUBBLY gets post relief here and she should improve enough to be part of the exotics. (4) NO MONEY HONEY is capable of closing for a small share in this spot.