Top Pick Stats: 216/621 = -$52.40 Best Bets: 15/58 = –$12.20 Spot Plays: 17/58 = +$4.60 Best Bet:  OUTBOUND TRAIN (RACE 2) Spot Play: HAPPY ANGEL (RACE 6) Early Pick 5: 2,5/3/3,4/5/1,7 = $1.60 Late Pick 5: 4/5,6/6,9/4,5,6/6,7 = $4.80 Race 1: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $25,000 (OS $31,250) LIFETIME (2) DIAMOND RYDER converted off a pocket trip and drew away from his rivals with ease, and was wrapped up by driver Jody Jamieson in the process. He is clearly the one to beat in this current group, and appears tough to beat in this opening leg of the pick 5. (5) DANCE CAPTAIN is coming off a second place effort at Dresden, where he got picked off late to finish 2nd. He was a winner in three consecutive tries prior to that outing, and is one that has been sharp. He tries the big track here and draws well; one worth monitoring here. (3) MCWINNER is coming off tries at London and will return to the big track. He draws inside, will pick up the services of James MacDonald, and can grab a share late. (4) ALWAYS B SWEETEST paced home well late to be a runner-up to the choice. He has one win over his last 45 tries, which makes him tough to love as a win candidate, but he should have every opportunity to secure a share. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $8,500 LIFETIME (3) OUTBOUND TRAIN made his first start in Canada last time out after going winless in seven tries as a rookie, having raced solely in Kentucky. He got away 3rd off the car and then took a shuffle in that contest before flashing plenty of trot late when shaking loose. He will get bet off that effort and you have to figure he’ll be even sharper coming into this contest. Louis-Philippe Roy picks up the drive and he is tough to go against. (6) CALL ME PARKER looked like a winner in his latest before jumping it off moments before reaching the wire. He has been snake bitten from finding the winner’s circle in his young career (winless in 18 starts), and seems to be inching closer. He draws from a very good post and he will be pointed forward in this spot, but he’ll have to find more if he wants to beat the choice. (10) SOLO C P is one I sided with on top last week after what was a good qualifying effort coming into his sophomore debut. He was conservatively handled in that contest and never got a clear lane in that try, but flashed good trot in between rivals. It’s too bad he drew outside this evening, and I’ll have to slot him in for a share as a result of that. (5) FIREFLIESNTHUNDER pushed away from an inside draw in his latest, and was able to stick around to grab the show spot. He draws the middle of the gate and I’d expect him to be aggressive in this spot. He can stick around for a share here, too. Race 3: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME (3) RESOLVED was a non-factor in his latest when he got away towards the back and was unable to improve a position. He is winless in eight career tries, but will now race for new trainer Ben Baillargeon. Previously trained by Shane Weber, we’ve seen horses in the past leave his barn and show vast improvement when they make their way into Ben’s barn, and I’ll peg this horse as a top choice and hope that the change of scenery will be to his benefit here this evening. (4) SUPERGIRL MOLLY put forth an exceptional rally late in the mile last time out. She never had a chance to get involved as a result of an outside draw, but was airborne late. She will take plenty of support for that effort – deservedly so – and will be tough to fend off if she stays to task and replicates a similar effort. (5) ETERNAL EMBRACE worked out a 2nd over trip in her latest and lost ground turning for home as a result of the rival she was following beginning to gap. She was moving well late in the stretch and showed improvement from her career debut. She can continue to get better, and can grab a share. (2) TRUDYBIRD made a miscue in her career debut, then went to Kawartha Downs to qualify where she put forth a winning prep. She’s one I’m interested in monitoring this evening but can hit the ticket if she stays to task. Race 4: FILLIES & MARES, CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $61,000 (OS $75,000) LIFETIME (5) JOB HUNTER disappointed as the choice in her latest after failing to get a clear lane during the stretch drive. She worked out a pocket trip in that contest before another live contender, but didn’t find any real estate when a determined rival on the outside didn’t tire. She draws the middle of the gate, and it should be all systems go for this mare here in her third start for the new connections. (2) INUKSHUK SALLY was a very game runner-up in her latest, when she came first-over and was pacing gamely to the wire. She finished ahead of the choice in that contest, and can take another step forward in what will be a much shorter price. (2) LILLY CLARE ralled nicely to be 2nd after returning back to the big track. She draws inside and will be looking to get what she can in the stretch yet again. (7) KITTYS COLUMN has four wins in nine tries this year and has been performing well at the B tracks. She will try her hand at the big track here, but will need to find a little more to be considered a main player. Race 5: NW 2 (FM 4) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $26,500) LIFETIME (7) LASTING DREAM will be making her sophomore debut off a pair of good qualifying tries. She wasn’t victorious in either one of them, but flashed some good trot in the first one, and got picked off by her stablemate who is a sophomore trotting colt that might just be one of, if not the best horse in the Blais barn. She should be ready to go at first-asking vs. this group. (1) UNGAWA flashed some good trot late in the mile in a narrow 2nd-place finish. He was taking on a pair of rivals who were eligible to the Goodtimes, and it was a very encouraging performance. He added trotting hopples two starts back and he has been able to stay to task, and can continue to take another step forward here. (3) CHICAGO HALL exits a Gold try where he was a non-factor. He should find this group more to his liking and can grab a piece. (4) STORMONT BEAUTIFUL finished 5th in her SBOA elim and was scratched-sick out of the final. She comes into this contest having not raced in close to one month and is one I’ll have to take a wait and see approach on. Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $8,500 LIFETIME (4) HAPPY ANGEL wasn’t much of a factor when she tried an OSS Gold leg in her most recent. She is back in a maiden where she’s coming off back-to-back strong showings at this level, including a runner-up effort in her latest. She was stuck behind poor, non-advancing cover, but flashed good late trot to get up for 2nd behind a dominant winner in that outing. She draws well and is Billy Davis Jr.’s choice over another rival. (6) INDUSTRIALISTS rallied nicely in the lane to be 3rd in his latest, despite drawing the 10 hole in that contest. He picks up the services of James MacDonald and they will line up from pp 6. He has been knocking on the door in finding a trip to the winner’s circle, and everything might be aligning for him to notch his first-ever victory here. (8) RULE THE ROOST was aggressively handled from an outside draw but tired late to hang on to be 2nd. He draws one spot in and that start over the big track could end up being a benefit, and is one that could favor having a helmet to chase; let’s see. (5) SUNDAY SHOES is coming off a 5th place effort at Flamboro. He adds Lasix in this contest and is one worth monitoring for next time; he can hit the ticket. Race 7: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (5) KOBRA KATE was moving very well in the late stages of the mile after getting away in a poor spot from pp9. She draws the middle of the gate after a pair of consecutive good efforts and is one I’ll side with hoping she can work out a more favorable trip. (6) CATCH MY PASSION was sent on a speed mission and was carving out some quick panels. She tired in that effort and might be better off having a helmet to chase; using. (3) FLUID came first up in that Grassroots try and wasn’t much of a factor in a 4th place try. She’s back in a maiden where she worked out a locked in, pocket trip and might be able to find this group more to her liking. James MacDonald picks up what should be a live drive in this spot. (2) TALL DARK LADY was a narrow 2nd in her latest. She is still winless in 12 career tries and is one that seems to be inching closer to a victory, but is one I’ll be tossing off multis. Race 8: NW 2 (FM 4) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $26,500) LIFETIME (9) LILY LACE is coming off a 6th place effort in an OSS Gold try in what was a strong showing. She was making her charge late in the stretch but was stuck behind a wall of rivals in the process. She flashed good go on the end of it, and should be brave coming off that effort. She will have to start from the outside, but possesses enough early footing to secure a good spot despite that. (6) EUROBANK HANOVER is coming off a maiden-breaking score and did so comfortably. He added trotting hopples in his 2nd qualifier this year after making a miscue in his first one, and has been moving well with them since adding that piece of equipment. He draws well and will be pointed forward, and he’s going to be the one to take down here. (3) KADDIDLE was a 2nd place finisher to a rival who bounced back in a big way. She was a strong, first over winner at this level two stats back and has been racing well all season long. She merits respect. (10) SHAMPOO GIRL is coming off a very nice 3rd place effort. Unfortunately she draws the 10 hole in this spot and is one I’ll monitor for next time. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: PREFERRED (6) TIMEWAITSONNOONE is returning back to the big track after a pair of good efforts at the B tracks. She was claimed three starts ago by Cameron McQueen and she has been no worse than 2nd in both those tries, and was a winner in the first start off the claim. She draws well, picks up James MacDonald and is one I’ll side with in this contest. (4) JAZZVILLE stepped up vs. condition claimers that were tougher than what she took on last time out. She is back at a level where she’s hit the board in 5 tries before her latest, including three trips to the winner’s circle. She draws well and is one that merits respect. (5) SOLIDAZABRICKHOUSE was a winner in her first start for new trainer Cam McQueen from a trailing post. She draws the middle of the gate and is one that I’m intrigued to see in this spot this evening; using. (7) SAKE BOMB was aggressively handled in her latest and finished a distant 2nd in that contest. She raced off Lasix in that effort for one start and will be back on that medication for this outing. She could flash speed and might be the one they’ll have to catch. Race 10:  FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME (7) MILLIE MAY HANOVER was aggressively handled in an OSS Gold last time out, and was a part of some heavy panels early on in the mile. She tired in that contest but was a really good runner-up to Chantilly in her seasonal debut two starts back. She is winless in 15 career tries, but this is the first time she’ll be racing in a straight maiden, and this is as good an opportunity she’ll have to break the goose egg. (6) STONE SAWYER was very unlucky two starts back when a rival put in steps and took her out of the race in what was setting up to be a great trip. She came first up last week and looked good heading to the far turn before putting in steps. She draws similar to last week and is one that I wouldn’t leave off the late pk5 in the event she can work out a stalking trip behind the choice. She’s intriguing here.  (3) ETERNAL DELIGHT flashed some good speed late in the mile to finish a good 2nd. She was a Judges scratch in her latest but shows up here off a strong effort. She can get a big piece. (1) SARA B DELIGHT was moving well late in the mile in her most recent. She is trending towards the victory, but so are some others in this field as well. (4) MCJAZZ is coming off a 3rd place effort in a prospect series leg at Clinton. She can round out this hi 5.