Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Tuesday 7/15

Top Pick Stats: 49/167 (-$130.40)

Best Bets: 5/15 (-$9.50); Spot Plays: 2/15 (-$19.60)

Best Bet: BACKUP PLAN (Race 10)

Spot Play: LANDING ON TIME (Race 2)

Early Pick 5: 1,3,8/3/3,7,10/4/1,9 $3.60

Late Pick 5: 1,5/5,6/1,4,5/5/5 $2.40

Race 1: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3A. 3 YEAR OLD PACING FILLIES. STARTING FEE $400 CDN ($315 USD).

(1) WINDSUN CHARLOTTE was expected to make the lead at some point when let off as the big favorite, but J-Mac made sure no trouble would occur in front of her and she cruised. She debuts for a new barn tonight and should be forward again. (8) PARKAVENUEJANET was chasing a runaway rival first over and battled well, but had to settle for second. She hasn’t paced a bad mile yet and deserves a long look. (3) LADY CAFE AU LAIT continues to knock on the door and posted an impressive mile from further back in her latest. Very interested in how she will be bet. (5) MANHATTAN MAYHEM does her best work in the late stages but is normally too far back.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: WINNERS OF 3 BUT NOT MORE THAN 6 OR $80,000 (OS $100,000) LIFETIME.

(3) LANDING ON TIME was the recipient of a late pull after his first over move. His momentum was stopped, but he continued to battle and still got up for second. It was another strong race from a colt who hasn’t missed the board yet. (5) MARS HILL could be a sizable favorite and I will welcome that with open arms. This is a group he is supposed to do well against. (4) MYFRIENDJOSE had a locked in journey in his latest. He can add some value to the exotics with a cleaner trip. (7) TACTICAL STRIKE was moving extremely well in the late stages but came up short as the favorite. She can contend with any trip.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Mohawk Park card at 1/ST BET PRO!]

Race 3: 2 YEAR OLDS: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES.

(7) CAPTAIN CODE was moving well when fed racetrack in his morning prep and cruised to a strong win. He looks ready to step forward and drop some time on debut. (3) I TAKE THE CAKE adds trotting hopples after a break in stride in his latest. Look for a rebound effort tonight. (10) HALTON HILL was a winner with no urging in his second morning prep, and looked to quicken when a horse was coming to his inside. The deciding factor here is the wide draw. (2) SOLO TO LEXINGTON had a month off between qualifiers but didn’t seem to mind it. She can get a piece on debut.

Race 4: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3A. 3 YEAR OLD PACING FILLIES. STARTING FEE $400 CDN ($315 USD).

(4) FOREVERAFTERALL comes off a sick scratch, but retains James Macdonald. I have plenty of confidence that the connections have her ready to roll once again. (9) SUGAR PIE HONEY was an easy winner in the Kin Pace Final, continuing her unbeaten season. She should be on the move early and loom as a major threat again. (8) ETERNAL DELIGHT has made strong moves in each of her last three starts. She could get a setup and surprise. (7) ALL MY WISHES might try different tactics tonight with J-Mac choosing off. She can close for a piece.

Race 5: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3A. 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $400 CDN ($315 USD).

(1) SILVERWALLS didn’t have his usual punch in the stretch, but that was because he paced a huge third quarter when first over to even get himself in contention. He draws a much better post tonight and should be right there. (9) GRIN AND WIN has come up short to the fast Fifth And Five in his last two efforts, but raced extremely well in his latest when aggressively handled. McNair should be active again in the early stages. (6) SHINING MOMENT paced home extremely well in his latest but couldn’t make up much ground. He can improve in his second start off the bench and spice up the exotics. (2) READYFORPRIMETIME was flying in the final sixteenth last week, and should no doubt get a better trip from J-Mac tonight. He is another contender in this tricky race.

Race 6: NW $9,000 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $30,000 IN 2025. AE: $2,500 P/S IN 2025.

(1) RICKY RESOLVE always merits respect because of how hard he tries week in and week out. He finished last when stepping up to the Preferred, but it’s not like he got obliterated against that group. His win two back from post ten was extremely impressive. He gets my nod over a much easier bunch tonight. (5) ROBERTSON DE is a horse that always throws a wrench into handicapping plans, because you have no idea what version you’ll get from week to week. He should step forward against this bunch, but what trip does he get? (4) ALL GAS NO BRAKES was a strong winner on the front end in his latest. He should be aggressively handled again and in a great spot to double up off the claim if good enough. (6) WILLOWTIME was not himself in his latest and made a break in stride. I’ll slot him underneath despite his sharp wins before that.

Race 7: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3A. 3 YEAR OLD PACING FILLIES. STARTING FEE $400 CDN ($315 USD).

(5) ITHADTOBEYOU is a filly I’ll try again tonight. She rallied well up the inside but could only manage third. That race setup was an anomaly that saw a runaway leader put her severely behind the eight ball when it was time to unleash her best. (6) MACAPELO SEELSTER seems to have found a comfortable spot at the Grassroots level. She pulled off an upset win in her latest and draws perfectly tonight. (3) DARLENES ANGEL has had some rough trips as of late, and gets the services of Louis Roy tonight. It’s difficult to blitz this bunch, but she can get a solid piece. (7) STELLRMANIPULATION set fractions that were too quick for her and ultimately faded. Does McNair try the front again?

Race 8: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $10,800 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES.

(1) CARSONSBUCKNGO was one of a few who took advantage of a race that fell apart last week. With the speed in this field, I still contend that his best shot is sitting up close. He’ll be a square number, and these others are hard to trust. (4) ALWAYS B SWEETEST also flew home in that meltdown of a race, and has knocked at the door plenty of times in recent starts. (5) NOVA BLU was unlucky two starts ago when part of a duel up front, but he took himself out of contention with an early misstep. Even still, he battled like he normally does. (3) TWIN B ALLIANCE could step forward and contend in his first start of the year, but the inexperience looms.

Race 9: PREFERRED.

(5) FASHION FRENZIE could be rounding into form that makes him the new king in Logan Park’s absence. He grinded out a second place finish behind that classy rival and draws a perfect post to get him a good trip. (7) OSCEOLA gets Doug McNair back, who tends to get a little more out of the horse than others. He should be forward again and right there if good enough. (4) GAINES HANOVER posts strong efforts every week, but that might be catching up to him. I’ll look elsewhere. (1) NASEY has picked up checks at this level before and comes off a strong win.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 10: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 3A. 3 YEAR OLD PACING COLTS & GELDINGS. STARTING FEE $400 CDN ($315 USD).

(5) BACKUP PLAN was extremely impressive when trying the front in his latest, cruising to a new career best. He could have even more speed and is where I’ll lean tonight. (1) FIFTH AND FIVE has won two in a row and makes a ton of sense. It could set up a battle between these two tonight and down the road. However, (6) FUBAR BUNDY might have something to say about that, dropping from the Gold level and adding Lasix. He has plenty of speed, but needs to put it all together. (4) CENTURY LUCIFER can step forward in his second start back and get a piece.

Race 11: NW $6,000 LAST 5 STARTS (W/O $15,000 LAST 10 STARTS N/E) AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. AE: NW $10,000 IN 2025. AE: N/A $1,555 P/S IN 2024-25.

(9) EYES OF JUSTICE drops back down to the optional 30K claiming level and picks up Doug McNair who could have him on the move early. He showed more speed off the claim and should go off at a square price. (1) COLD SNAPS made a long, sustained bid in her latest and cruised right by the leaders. She was very good, and should be a main player again tonight. (4) FLIRTY DANCER should appreciate the drop in class and could be forwardly placed. (8) PESO HANOVER could benefit if the early speed types come out in full force. He just missed when racing from the back in his latest. (2) VILLEFRANCHE AS comes off two confidence building wins at Kawartha. She can sneak through for a piece.