Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Tuesday 12/22

Meet Stats: 382 – 1243 / $2,200.90 (-$329.10)
Best Bets: 62 – 113 / $199.40 (-$26.60)
Spot Plays: 24 - 116 / $194.10 (-$39.10)
Best Bet: LETSTAKETOTHESKY (8TH)
Spot Play: BETTER MOONON OVER (5TH)
Early Pick 5: 4,7,8/2,7,9/1,4/1,10/4,8,10 = $21.60
Late Pick 5: 3, 3,7/4,6,8/6/3,8,9/6,7,8 = $10.80
Early Pick 4: 1,10/4,8,10/3,7/4,6,8 = $36
Late Pick 4: 6/3,8,9/6,7,8/1,5,9 = $27

Race 1: CLAIMING HANDICAP $12,000 to $15,000 **$100,000 Pick 5**

(8) GLOIRE DREAM has solid form and he drops into a claimer here. He should be tough in here, the only worry being that he gets too far back early in the mile. I'll give him the nod over (4) MISTER MAGIC who is unquestionably the best horse in here but he's risky coming off a lame scratch and having missed four weeks. (7) MORALLY FLEXIBLE drops into a claimer and if there is a spot where he is going to wake up this is likely it. Give him a price look. (3) ZEUS LIGHTNING's form is good now and he should take at least a small share here.

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Race 2: 2YO and 3YO NW1 or $7,100 LT

(7) BELIEVE IN BRIAN showed improvement last week and he looks as good as any in a race with seemingly few contenders. He could fall into a great pocket trip following (9) BETTORS DONTTELL who should be pointing to the front leaving the gate and is another one in with a decent chance. (2) BIG CHIC MAGNET can be right there vs. this group if he gets a more alert start this time and he is another Pick 5 possibility. (1) KINGS JESTER is a good one to use on the bottom here getting his nose back on the gate.

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

Race 3: CLAIMING HANDICAP $10,000 to $12,000

(1) ON CRUISE CONTROL emulated his name in deep stretch last week as he was on his way to an easy win. Off that impressive effort, he gets the call to repeat. (4) SPORTSNEST got used hard early in the mile last time and with an expected easier trip here he should be right there. (3) MACH MESSIER comes off an improved effort and he can pass some of these late to take another share. (5) UNPRECEDENTED was also rolling late and he is another that can pick up some pieces here.

Race 4: NW $3,000 L5 or $7,000 L10 - Pick 4

(10) SORPRESE finished a good third to tougher last time and she need only work out a decent trip starting from the second tier to have a big shot in here. (4) HEMI SEELSTER drops and picks up leading driver Filion. He will likely look to go right down the road in this spot; using. (8) SG GOLIATH KING comes off a decent try and he could blow up the exotics at a price in this spot. (2) DONATO LANE can get another good following trip here and I'll use him on the bottom of the Super.

Race 5: CLAIMING HANDICAP $15,000 to $20,000

(10) BETTER MOONON OVER got into some horrendous road trouble when horses that pulled in front of him didn't take a step forward last week and he still managed to pass four horses late while pacing a fast kicker. If he can get better positioned by the 3/4 pole here, he will be hard to hold off. (8) P L IDAHO had an impossible trip last week yet he was still only picked off very late by a horse that was covered up most of the mile. If he can clear he might be gone. (4) MACH IMPACT makes his third start off the Fellows claim and he gets his nose back on the gate. He isn't impossible in this spot. (5) PAR INTENDED is yet to finish in the Exacta this year but he is worth a look for the Super making his first start off the Auciello claim.

Race 6: 4YO and Younger NW1 or $7,000 LT - Pick 5

(3) SO LONG HANOVER comes out of some fast races at Dover and he faces a field full of question marks. I'll give him the nod against these. (7) JOHNNY PING has the best recent form and he should break his maiden soon; maybe tonight? (5) DREAM DEAL comes in with two London wins in tow but he will need to produce more speed here; using underneath. (10) BLACK SEVEN can pass a few of these to take another slice.

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

Race 7: CLAIMING $8,000

(4) SOS JUSTIFIED brings some solid form with him from Ottawa and he fits well here. Picking up McNair to drive, he gets top call here. (8) SUNSHINES FINEST is right there every week at this level and tonight should be no different; using. (6) VENENO was under pressure all the way last time racing off the Waxman claim. I can see him lasting much longer here and he is on my early Pick 4 ticket. (2) COOL ROCK was claimed last time despite having lost more than 50 races in a row at that point. I can only use him underneath until I see the desire to pass them all.

Race 8: 4YO and Younger NW2 (F&M3) or $20,000 (F&M $30,000) - Pick 4

(6) LETSTAKETOTHESKY got an impossible trip in the Harvest Series final and understandably backed up late. This is a good spot for her and she could go right down the road in this spot. (7) RJS INVICTUS is another who seems to fit well in this spot and she should be an exotics factor tonight. (3) GROSSETO AS is an interesting shipper who is worth a look in this local debut for Team Steacy. (9) MODERN MASS is capable of landing in the Super but the time off and post 9 is concerning; using on the bottom only.

Race 9: 4YO and Younger NW2 or $15,000 LT

(8) SOLARCTIC was first up in a fast mile last time and that effort is one of the best of any of these. McNair might look to send him on a speed mission here; top call. (3) BIG CITY NEWS can get a better trip here starting from a better post and I'll use him on multi-race tickets. (9) LOUS DELIGHT finished ahead of the choice last time and while he is an obvious contender on paper, he has fallen short many times recently. I'd demand a price. (1) FEAR THE SHADOW beat a weak group last week for his first win in 24 starts and I'll use him on the bottom only.

Race 10: PREFERRED HANDICAP

(7) HEY LIVVY comes off two subpar efforts for her but she is the best in here when she is on her game and her price goes up now; top call. (8) PERFETTO is in top form and he should be right there again despite being assigned the widest post. (6) ZIG ZAG is in top form right now and based on his last two efforts he's hard to toss when making Pick 4 tickets. (5) DREAM NATION can land in the bottom of the Tri and Super here again at a price.

Race 11: CLAIMING $15,000 for NW $40,000

(5) SUNNY BO was raced aggressively as expected last week and he fell just short in a good effort. It's time to end the 2020 win drought. (9) LIVIN LARGE is racing well and getting close to a win. Maybe this is the night at a price from the 9 hole if the choice falters. (1) JUSTA BANDIT was well-backed racing off the claim and he blasted, yielded then took a shuffle. He should contend here again. (10) BETTORS VICTORY is in the top five every week and he should be part of this High-5. (3) MODERN WRITER is a good one to add for the bottom of the Super and Tri.