Top Pick Stats: 256/746 (-$240.80) Best Bets: 32/68 ($8.40); Spot Plays: 14/68 (-$37.80) Best Bet: SOUTHWIND DOMINO (Race 10) Spot Play: JK MAGA (Race 4) Early Pick-5: 3,4/ALL/1,6/5,7/2   $11.20 Late Pick-5: 3,5/5,8/8/5,6/2   $1.60 Race 1: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $13,850 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. (4) PHOENIX is likely to go off as an overlay with regular driver Bob McClure not in the bike tonight, but he is a horse who likes to do his best work from off the pace no matter who drives. Renaud got a lot out of him on September 1. He is too classy to keep his winless streak going for much longer. (3) DAHLQUIST HANOVER clearly had something go amiss last week. He returns after a few weeks off and gets leading driver James Macdonald back in the bike. I think he rebounds nicely. (8) PERFETTO has been a tough horse to read over the last couple of seasons. Despite this being his first start since July, he could still get a piece if put in play. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. WITH ALLOWANCES. (1) VIMY RIDGE EPONA has shown some solid ability in limited starts, but will need to mind her manners from the rail. If she steps forward on the big track, she could get the job done. (7) IN SESSION feels like the class of this field based on what she has been facing, but is another who hasn’t raced in over a month. She may need a start, especially since she is adding Lasix. (4) PATS QUEEN has some proven form over the Mohawk oval and likes to pass horses in the stretch. She can get a piece. Race 3: HORSES & GELDINGS, CLAIMING HANDICAP $8,000 TO $11,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (1) MACH STEADY has been extremely steady in his 11 year old season, only missing the board one time in limited starts. His two starts since shipping from Fraser Downs were sharp, and now he gets major post relief. (6) LETS GET PICKLED lost the race from the jump last week after taking back to last. He likes to pounce after sitting up close; Jamieson should oblige him tonight. (2) ALWAYS B SWEETEST took advantage of a slow middle half and absolutely blitzed his rivals, going on to win by open lengths. This is a tougher group, but he can find his way to get a piece. Race 4: 2 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: NW 1 RACE OR $12,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. AE: NW $1,500 LAST 4 STARTS. (5) JK MAGA looks to be the second Stable starter in as many weeks to ship from Northfield and win their Canadian debut. He has shown ability around the half mile oval, but has gotten funky gaited in a couple of those efforts. I think he will prefer the bigger Mohawk track much better. (7) SOLAR VOLTAGE had a tough trip in his latest despite what the line says. I would expect J-Mac to be aggressive off the car and try to get him out of trouble. (8) ELLINGTON took on two of the best colts in the sport last time in Al Papi and Melillo. That was over a month ago, though. I can see him getting a conservative steer and closing for a piece. Race 5: NW $10,850 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $21,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $2,200 P/S IN 2025. (2) NEW RULES definitely needed a race off the bench. I would expect him to be tighter and sharper tonight and get the job done. He picks up J-Mac too, which never hurts. (4) P L RAINBOW DASH was a sharp second place finisher with Tyler Borth in the bike. She frequently holds her own against the boys and has some sharp turn of foot. (8) PEMBERTON is classy enough to win this race, but will need the right trip as usual. He has been too far back to make a consistent impact, though he does get a drop in class. Race 6: NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $29,500 LAST 8 STARTS.  AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: MARES. (5) HASTY BID isn’t quite a top level trotter on the grounds, but frequently shines when dropping to a level like this. J-Mac should have him in play right away. (3) EMOJI HANOVER loses her regular pilot, but has the turn of foot to make a rally when it matters most. She is a logical use in exotics. (7) DEVILS ARCH was a solid third last week after saving ground. He tends to race better when put on the lead, but can grind and get a piece. Race 7: NW $1,000 LAST 4 STARTS (W/O $7,500 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: N/A $700 P/S IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: OPT. CLM. $12,500. (8) FLYING ART A got a fine tightener from off the pace last week. I can see him being aggressively handled this week and as one of the main threats. (5) MOMAS SON BYRNE will be even shorter of a price after last week’s race that he didn’t even win. He felt like a sucker pick of mine last week, but now I’m really unsure of what to do with him. He SHOULD be the one to catch when turning for home. (3) BRIGHTSIDE MASEO was well back of the top two, but managed to pass seven horses in the back half. He can close for a piece. Race 8: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (8) AXIAL has no chance of going off at a double digit mutuel after a sharp effort in his debut morning prep. Many should side with this new shooter against a group that doesn’t look the best. (4) LATE FOR COFFEE was a solid second last week when put in play. If he can be put in a stalking spot, he can produce another good finish. (1) FIRE CONTROL stepped forward on the big track, but many horses do. He has shown some ability from off the pace, and could blitz rivals. He feels like a horse that needs to be used in multis. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: FILLIES & MARES, CLAIMING HANDICAP $8,000 TO $11,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (5) TIMEWAITSONNOONE has been stringing together quality miles at Leamington, and now gets the leading driver in the bike who should have her on the move in the early stages. I’ll give her the slight nod. (6) MY ONLY SUNSHINE had something go amiss last week. She took back to last at Flamboro only to make a break in stride when moving to three quarters. Her two previous efforts were sharp wins when adding Lasix. She can rebound. (7) WIFEY SAID SO comes off a gutsy win at Grand River where she grinded first over. She may have to work an off the pace trip tonight and can get a piece. Race 10: NW $1,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $6,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $715 P/S IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: OPT. CLM. $12,500. (2) SOUTHWIND DOMINO gets a giant class drop tonight and should have no trouble handling these horses if he brings his best. (3) GIVE ME KARETS K continues to be as consistent at they come. He just missed off the claim and should be a contender again. (1) SHUTTER GREEN got a great drive from Travis Henry two starts ago which helped him get the win. I think he will be forced to race from mid pack with the rail draw, and can close for a piece.