Top Pick Stats: 216/621 = -$52.40 Best Bets: 15/58 = –$12.20; Spot Plays: 17/58 = +$4.60 Best Bet: MYTIMETODANCE (race 3) Spot Play: MANFORCE (race 7) Early Pick 5: 3,5/2,4,5/2/8/2,6,8 = $3.60 Late Pick 5: 3,4,5,7/9/ 7,9/1,3,5,7/3 = $6.40 Race 1: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS. (3) WENDELL BLUE CHIP came first up vs. a tiring rival, but drifted out just as he turned for home. He came on again to be 3rd in that contest in what was an improved showing from his start prior. He seems to be trending in the right direction to get his picture taken, and I’ll side with him here in the opener. Doug McNair will be back aboard here. (5) MOVE YOUR MASS is coming off a pair of qualifiers as he gears up for his sophomore debut. He was under some urging by driver Bob McClure in that most recent prep, but the colt responded to win comfortably by a couple of lengths. He draws well and appears tight enough for a strong showing, and is one that I’ll use on p5 tickets. (7) PIERRE IN PARIS made a miscue in his latest, and was 4th in a Gold try two starts back. This appears to be a more manageable spot and it wouldn’t surprise me if he put forth a good effort here. (1) SOLO C P was a runner-up in his most recent showing. This is a tougher bunch but he can close for a share. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (2) ITS NOT MY VAULT is coming into this 2nd Grassroots leg off a very sharp, runner-up effort at Grand River. She was stuck along the inside but found a clear seam at the top of the lane, making steady gains late where she just missed to be 2nd. She was sneaky good in a 5th place showing in the 1st leg of this Grassroots division, and will be reacquainted with Louis-Phillippe Roy, who guided her to that showing over the Campbellville oval that evening. I’ll give her the nod as a value player here. (5) LIL SWEET didn’t have much to offer late in the mile after coming to a halt on the lead despite some favorable panels. She should be competitive in this Grassroots leg based on class alone, but is tough to rely on despite taking on a more manageable group this evening. (4) SHAMPOO GIRL made a break off the gate in her most recent try. She put forth a couple of strong showing in her two starts prior, and has flashed versatility in each of those efforts. She draws well and is not one to take lightly here. (3) INCANTATION was a winner in the first leg of the Grassroots when she was pointed on the engine by driver Jody Jamieson. This filly will be reunited with her this evening and is one that should get another aggressive steer in this spot. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Mohawk Park card at 1/ST BET PRO!] Race 3: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (2) MYTIMETODANCE ships in from Kawartha Downs off a pair of strong showings, including an easy score in his most recent. He appeared to have more in the tank in that victory and looks poised for another good outing in what will be his third start of his young career. James MacDonald will be at the controls and he’ll be a pick 5 single for me.(6) BETTOR TALKER worked out a perfect, second-over trip and cruised to victory in what was a maiden-breaking score. He will be making his first parimutuel start over the Campbellville oval, and should be coming into this race brimming with confidence. (5) ALWAYS B SWEETEST is coming into this event off a trio of runner-up finishes. She has worked out pocket trips in each of those efforts and has been able to pull off a victory in spite of perfect trips. She draws well and should be right there, but is tough to trust as a win candidate. (7) SIR VAYLANCE disappointed as the favorite but was a solid 3rd in her first career outing. She was behind stalling cover in that contest and was caught in a blind switch turning for home but still managed to pace well enough to grab the show spot. I’m curious to see what she can do over the big track this evening, and is one worth monitoring. Race 4: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (8) TELLERS CHOICE was a distant 3rd in her most recent, falling short to a filly who stepped up off that victory and took on Gold Company the other night. This Luc Blais trainee started from the rail in her latest and was gapped a couple lengths and had too much ground to make up on a night that was difficult to gain ground. She draws outside but has the gate speed to be put in play and I’m expecting a bounce back effort here. (9) TRUDYBIRD showed good improvement in her 2nd career start, where she trotted well late in the mile to be 3rd. She gapped the turn a little bit but came into gear in the straightaway in what was an encouraging effort. This will be her toughest task to date, in what is just her 3rd career start. (5) THE GREEN BOOK comes off a dominant, maiden-breaking score in her latest where she bested her rivals from start to finish. She was coming off a good, 3rd-place finish in her start prior after missing several weeks in between starts and looks to be trending in the right direction. She draws well and should be aggressively handled in this spot. (1) WELLS FARGO made a miscue in her latest but grabbed the show spot in back-to-back starts prior. Race 5: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS. (6) OUTBOUND TRAIN got away mid-pack early on in what was a step up in class in his latest. He angled out late in the stretch and flashed some good trot in a 5th place effort. He should be able to build off that try and is one I’ll give the nod to in this Grassroots leg, and will be tough to fend off if he’s within range turning for home.  (2) HOUSTON SEELSTER wasn’t a factor from pp10 last time out after getting a conservative trip. He had been racing well prior to that outing and is one that could be sitting on a sneaky good effort here, and might be aggressively handled now with a better draw; using.  (8) FLANAGAN SUNSHINE is coming off a winning qualifying try, and will be making his first pari-mutuel start in over one month. He can be a major factor if he’s put in play, and is one I’d keep a close eye on. (3) GO BLUE worked out a perfect, pocket trip and got picked off late by a rival who angled off the cones late to score. He is winless in 7 tries this year, but has hit the board in each of those starts. He’s a big threat to get a big piece yet again. Race 6: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $5,000 LAST 5 STARTS. (5) THATSWHATISAID N wasn’t much of a factor last time out in a 4th place try at Flamboro. He had a non-regular in the bike last time out in that try and will pick up the services of Billy Davis Jr. this evening, who has had success sitting behind him. He draws the middle of the gate, and I’m expecting him to be able to work out a good trip despite missing a month. (4) BEACH COWBOY was never a factor in his latest after an easy score two starts prior. He’s back at a level where he should be competitive and is arguably the one to beat in this spot. (7) A J MORELLI ships in from Rideau off an even, 4th place try. He will now race out of the barn of Gerard Demers and will pick up the services of James MacDonald, who had his choice over two others. That’s enough for me to use in the opening leg of this late p5. (3) CHOREOGRAPHER was used twice early to make the front and tired to be 3rd. He does his best work on the engine and has the back class to lead from start to finish in this spot. He merits respect. Race 7: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS. (9) MANFORCE is coming off a dominant score in his latest when he power moved to the lead ahead of the final turn at Georgian Downs, and drew away from his rivals. That was his 2nd win over his last 3 starts, after going winless in his first 12 career tries. He was a comfortable winner in his most recent Grassroots try and is one that seems to be trending in the right direction here, and is gaining confidence by the start. I’ll side with him here, and he has early enough footing to overcome the outside draw. (8) LOOKATMEGOAMIGO was an easy winner in his latest at Grand River taking on softer company. He will be taking on Grassroots company this evening after being non-competitive in his most recent Gold and should find this group to be to his liking; he can double up. (7) JAYPORT CASH was just even in his latest in a 4th place finish. He was an upset winner in leg 1 of the Grassroots at Flamboro when he was put in play from pp7, and is one that’ll have every opportunity to grab a piece here. (2) ARTFUL DODGER has been a non-factor over his last three tries, failing to hit the board in those outings. He will have every opportunity to put forth a more positive showing here. Race 8: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. (7) TAHONTA was my spot play last time out and she worked out an unlucky trip in what was a good, 3rd place effort. She found herself touching down on the lead from pp10 briefly, before another rival re-moved to take front, and stopped in her face turning for home. She had some trot but couldn’t find a seam and is one I’ll go back to off that effort in what I know is a tougher spot. (9) NIGHTINGALE disappointed as the race favorite in her latest and had nothing to offer in that outing whatsoever. She had missed three weeks prior to that outing and appeared to have a flat tire in that outing, which could explain why she was extremely flat in the lane. She had a useful tightener ahead of this Grassroots leg and is one that should be given the opportunity to rebound in this spot, even from the outside. (6) OCEANVIEW RUMOURS hasn’t hit the board over her last two outings. She was a good 2nd in a Grassroots leg three starts back and is one that can pick up a share late with a trip. (5) RESOLVED came first up and hung around for 3rd. She was never getting a strong rival but likely should’ve finished ahead of the rival who snuck up to be 2nd. She will start from another favorable draw and will race on Lasix for the 2nd time here. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS CLAIMING $8,000 FOR NW $5,000 LAST 5 STARTS. (3) FISCAL POLICY is winless in 15 tries this year and will compete in the easiest spot we’ve seen in quite some time. He missed over one month going into his 4th place effort two starts back, and stepped up vs. tougher company in a 5th place effort on the big track last time out. He is tough to trust, but the same can be said for plenty of other rivals in this contest, but is James MacDonald’s choice over another rival in this contest, who he’s guided to victory in the past. I’ll give him the nod in a tricky betting race. (5) THATLL BE TIGER was aggressively handled in his first start for new trainer Jason Libby and tired to be 2nd. It was the first time he was put on the engine in quite some time, and seems better suited when he races with a target to chase. He draws well, finds himself back on the big track and could be tough to fend off late. (7) ENFORCER hasn’t been a factor over his last few tries. He picks up the services of Jody Jamieson and is one that has the ability to be competitive with this group, but that’s a big if. (1) BETTORHOLDONTIGHT finished 4th in his most recent at Georgian Downs. He is back in Ontario after a few tries in Ottawa and Quebec, and is one that should appreciate being back on the big track. Race 10: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS. (3) GETTHEGREEN was a measured winner in his latest in what was his first start in one month. He looked a little bumpy in the lane, but was able to keep it together in a winning effort. He should be the one to beat in this spot and is one I’ll side with in the finale. (1) RISING INTEREST flashed some good trot late in the mile, but was unable to hit the board as a result of being in a bad spot from starting from pp10. He will start from the rail and is likely the choice’s biggest threat this evening. (6) SUNDAY SHOES stepped up in class off a strong, maiden-breaking score and was 3rd behind a pair of sharp rivals. He draws well and is one that could work out a favorable trip, and might even be able to benefit if a couple of the main contenders make miscues. (4) ALIMONY MIKE was aggressively handled in his latest when he made an aggressive brush move to the front and tired, fading to 5th in that effort. He seems better suited chasing rivals with a target, and is one that could benefit from having that kind of trip this evening. (2) LEXUS LEGACY was 3rd in his latest and can grab a minor share in this spot.