Top Pick Stats: 216/621 = -$52.40 Best Bets: 15/58 = –$12.20; Spot Plays: 17/58 = +$4.60 Best Bet: VALIDUS (RACE 5) Spot Play: ONEFORMYBABY (RACE 7) Early Pick 5: 4,6,7/7/4/2,8/3 Late Pick 5: 2/8/1,5,7/2,3,5/4,5,6 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $26,750 LIFETIME. (4) CRYPTO HANOVER made a miscue past the first turn after getting away in a very good spot as the co-choice in that contest. She has a better draw to work with and I think she could prove tough to beat if she’s pointed forward off the car yet again. (6) MEADOWVIEW ROTHY rallied nicely to be 3rd, after a tough, long first-over trip last trip in her start prior. She draws well and she’s sharp; contender. (7) TRIX ON YOU was an upset winner in his latest try after never leaving the pylons but being full of trot. Trainer Michelle Olson went to a bigger bike in that contest and it proved valuable, and this son of Trixton can take another step forward here. (1) TENCARATGOLD failed to hit the board after a first-over bid and was repelled by the eventual winner. He was flying late to be 2nd to the one above two starts back, and is one that is pretty sharp; using underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3B. 2 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (7) GREEN MONI QUEEN is exiting a try in a Grand Circuit event but was not a factor in that contest whatsoever. She left out aggressively but didn’t have anything to offer late in the mile in a 6th place finish. She has been sharp in her efforts prior and is one that should be given every chance to get her picture taken in this spot. (1) MAKINA RUN FOR IT didn’t hit the board in her latest but took on tougher company overall. She can get a good piece here. (4) BELLE BOUBOU struggled to get around those turns and didn’t offer much pop late in the stretch, but that was the first time she stayed trotting since July in a pari-mutuel outing. She can show improvement. (6) BLUE RARE draws well here and is James MacDonald’s choice over another rival; she can land on the ticket. Race 3: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: NW 1 RACE OR $9,500 LIFETIME. (4) A SPLASH OF GREEN is coming off an easy qualifying try and looked comfortable doing so. She made breaks in her last couple of starts, but is in a maiden for the first time. Simply put, if she trots, she jogs. (7) FIGURATIVELY is another filly exiting OSS Gold tries and will find herself in a better spot. She was a sick-scr last time out but shows up here on Lasix. She’s the next logical if the one above breaks. (3) CONTEST is making her pari-mutuel debut off a lone qualifying effort where she was 2nd to the choice. She was moving well that morning but is one I’ll opt to monitor for the coming weeks. (6) PATS QUEEN didn’t hit the board in her latest but has raced well this year; she can hit the ticket. Race 4: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $68,500 (OS $78,500) LIFETIME OR $1,700 LAST 5 STARTS. (2) BEACH CRUISER tried to make a first-over brush to overtake the eventual winner on the backside and ended up getting parked the mile. This 4YO gelded-son of Yankee Cruiser will reunited with James MacDonald, who has orchestrated some winning steers with this guy. I’ll give him a whirl at what should be some value. (8) ABOVEMYPAYGRADE is coming off a pair of sharp victories at this level and is undoubtedly the one to beat here. (6) SEES THE BAY was a private purchase and will be making his Ontario debut shipping in from Ohio. He is intriguing but didn’t have much success for a quality barn in his starts prior. (1) EASILY THE BEST can hit the ticket here off a sharp 2nd-place try. Race 5: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (3) VALIDUS was stuck behind stalled cover but was motoring home late in the mile to just miss. She hasn’t put forth a bad effort in her young career, and she should have every chance to pick up career victory #1 in this spot. (6) TRIX UP MY SLEEVE was aggressively handled from pp#9 in her latest and just got picked off by a rival at the wire. She draws even better here and will be given every chance to win yet again. (1) TRUDYBIRD was aggressively handled off the car and worked out a picture perfect trip. She was able to muster a 3rd in that try and is one that should be right there. (4) KAMA notched a maiden-breaking score at Georgian Downs after a sneaky good 4th-place finish on the big track the start prior. She could be heading in the right direction, but I prefer others. Race 6: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3B. 2 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (2) BLUE JEAN GAL has gotten faster in her last two victories, with her latest coming as easy as can be. Her gait seems much improved and she’ll be tough to beat if she drops as the overwhelming choice. (6) SOCIAL WIZARD is coming off an easy score in her latest and should be coming into this event with confidence. She can build off that effort. (7) TWIN B SHOWBIZ failed to deliver as the heavy choice in her latest. She can grab a piece. (5) CANUKEEPASECRET was a winner two starts back in a Grassroots try, and draws well here. She can work out a nice trip. Race 7: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 3 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (8) ONEFORMYBABY hasn’t hit the board over her last few tries, and is coming off some uninspiring tries vs. much tougher company. This could be a great opportunity for this filly to gain some confidence, in a field that is very camera shy. (1) KOBRA KATE has disappointed as the choice over her last couple of tries despite good efforts. She will get bet again and is one I’m okay playing against in this spot, even if she’s in with a great shot. (2) MO WICKED went on a speed try in her latest and tired to be 3rd. That effort getting stretched out could benefit her this week; we’ll see. (4) SHOWMETHEMONEYDEO was patiently handled in her 3rd qualifying try as she gears up for her career debut. She got around cleanly and is one that I’ll monitor for the coming weeks. Race 8: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3B. 2 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (1) ELBOWS UP is coming off a runner-up finish to a filly who absolutely jogged in her latest. She draws the rail in this spot but looks like a standout to get back into the winner’s circle this evening. (7) GREEK MANALISHI S is coming off a lone qualifying prep but finished a nice, rallying 3rd in that contest. She is one I’ll use on multi leg tickets in the event the trip works out because I think she provides some intrigue here. (5) LILY REIN was a distant 3rd in her latest and she draws much better; she should be involved early. (6) KARMAISAQUEEN draws well and has raced well; she can hit the ticket here. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: FILLIES & MARES NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $62,750) LIFETIME. AE: NW $45,000 IN 2024 OR 2025. (5) OCEANVIEW RUMOURS is coming off back-to-back victories, and should be brimming with confidence. She draws well and I expect her to continue her winning ways here. (3) FLOWING TRIBUTE is probably the most talented horse in this field, even as a 2YO. She hooks older rivals and can get the best of this group if she works out the right trip. (2) KADDIDLE didn’t hit the board in her latest but takes a dip in class here vs. a good group. She draws inside and that could be enough to work out a winning trip. (1) LIL SWEET comes off a 2nd place try at GRR. She draws inside but can grab a share. Race 10: 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES: GRASSROOTS OR PROSPECT STARTERS NW $25,000 LAST 5 STARTS. (5) TAHONTA came first up against a dominant winner in her latest and stuck around to be 3rd. She draws well but can be a big time factor with an easier trip. Giving her the nod in a wide open affair. (6) LILY LACE finished ahead of the choice in her latest but worked out an easier trip. She draws well and can replicate a similar effort from last week. (4) TELLERS CHOICE worked out a 2nd over trip to the choice in her latest to be 4th. She draws better and she could be going forward early here; contender. (2) SHAMPOO GIRL made a miscue just as she began to settle into a hole. She is tough to trust right now given her quirks, but is one that has the talent to compete if she can put it all together. (7) P L STEVIE added Lasix in her latest but was 5th in that outing. She is one that has proven to put forth competitive tries vs. these, and can race well here.