Top Pick Stats: 90/265 (-$123.80) Best Bets: 9/23 (-$10.80); Spot Plays: 4/24 (-$30.70) Best Bet: WILLOWTIME (Race 7) Spot Play: BROOKDALE LAYTON (Race 8) Early Pick 5: 4,6/5,6/1,6/1,6/4,9   $6.40 Late Pick 5: 3,8/1,9/5,8/4,6/1,10   $6.40 Race 1: WINNERS OF 3 (FM 4) BUT NOT MORE THAN 5 (FM 6) OR $80,000 (OS $100,000) LIFETIME. (4) SOUTHWIND MILK is maybe the sharpest he’s ever been and comes off a near miss second. He is the one to beat. (6) MYFRIENDJOSE could benefit with more aggressive handling. If he is getting back to form that quickly, he could even win. (2) MYRETIREMENTDREAM gets post relief after hitting the board again. A must use on exotics. (5) MARS HILL has just not been good enough this year, no matter what track he’s racing at. He was better in his latest, but will need to show me more. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 2 YEAR OLDS: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (6) WOLFPACK CROWN looked like a winner when popping pocket but made a break. He appears to have the speed to handle these if he minds his manners. (5) SUPER GREEN took a visible step forward on debut and now picks up Louis Roy for his Mohawk debut. I would expect improvement again. (4) NOTATTHETABLECARLOS trotted home well in his only morning prep and draws a post that he should be forward from. (1) SETTLER is one of two for Camilla Christoforou who can improve on debut if she handles the rail draw. Race 3: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: PROSPECT STARTERS. (1) SMOKED EM AGAIN had no chance in her Mohawk debut. I would expect McClure to have her in a much better spot in this short field. (6) DUVUTOS SHADOW made two moves in her latest and appears to be improving. I expect an aggressive steer. (3) MOLLYS ON FIRE is a question mark to me because of how she has raced so far. She could stroll by after finding a live helmet, but could also be at a major pace disadvantage. (5) POISONOUS DELIGHT was used too hard in the early stages and it cost her. Curious about her trip as well. Race 4: 2 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: PROSPECT STARTERS. (1) CABO SAN LUCAS held off rivals after a third quarter sprint. He is versatile and should play very well here. (6) DOMINEIGHT was favored on debut and could be aggressively handled with Borth in the bike. (2) STARBRIGHT DANCER is 2-for-2 and picks up the leading driver tonight. His July 7 win was impressive. (4) WHATSINTHESHADOWS has looked much better on the smaller tracks. We’ll see how true that statement is tonight. Race 5: PURE IVORY: 2 YEAR OLD TROTTING FILLIES. LEG 2. (4) CALYX was moving best of anyone in her latest and could capitalize off any trip this time around. (9) SHIMMERING HANOVER should take plenty of play with her closing effort behind One Belle. She draws poorly, but improvement makes her tough. (2) WISHUPONASTAR DEO hasn’t done much wrong yet and will be a much better price than in her latest. A logical exotics use. (1) AURA OF ATHENA was a strong second behind Wishuponastar Deo last time. She is another logical type. Race 6: 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES: PROSPECT STARTERS. (8) TYMAL EMERALD found her best stride in the lane last week and likely would’ve gotten there if she was able to be activated earlier. Money will find her, I think. (3) GRACES SECRET was much better when shipping in and was part of a near miss dead heat. McNair gets the call tonight and should have her in a good spot again. (7) NOT PASSABLE was denied a three race win streak and had to settle for sharing that dead heat with Graces Secret. She should be forward again. (2) WINGS OF GREEN held everyone off but will have to do so again if she quarter moves. I’ll look elsewhere. Race 7: NW $9,000 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW 9 RACES LIFETIME. AE: NW $58,000 IN 2025. (1) WILLOWTIME was at his best last week, trotting a new career top mile. He gets my nod to repeat. (9) HASTY BID took back last week, and that was that. If J-Mac presses the pedal, she could be tough. (4) PEMBERTON is a giant question mark every time he races. He’ll get his trip one of these weeks. He’s too talented not to. (3) RICKY RESOLVE continues to grind out solid performances week after week. A must use on exotics. Race 8: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 3 RACES) OR $9,950 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (5) BROOKDALE LAYTON went too quick on the lead last time and faded as a result. He has the speed to get a win here, but the trip will need to be right. (8) NOVA BLU continues to be snakebitten and just can’t get that first win. Post doesn’t help. (3) JIMS FIRST DATE will take money off the strength of that back half, but it may be too much. (1) TROOPER HANOVER comes off a strong win and should improve on the big track if good enough. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: NW $6,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $16,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: NW $36,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: N/A $1,540 P/S IN 2024-25. (6) R PEAKY BLINDERS made a solid recovery to finish close after making an early break. Louis Roy interestingly gives him the nod. Could be sitting on a big effort. (4) DAHLQUIST HANOVER has shined before on a similar drop in class, and you know J-Mac will give him every chance. (2) EYES OF JUSTICE finally got an aggressive steer and cruised, much to the delight of yours truly. New pilot gives me cause for concern. (7) P L RAINBOW DASH has been getting checks but her style regularly puts her up against it. Race 10: 2 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (1) PLANKTON HANOVER drops from the Gold ranks and reunites with the leading driver on the grounds. He will take plenty of support, and I think rightly so. (10) CATTLE DRIVE debuts for a new barn and also gets away from Beau Jangles. I expect these top two to take the bulk of the betting support. (6) HURRICANE EXPRESS grinded into the race and managed to snag fourth. He is improving. (3) RYDER ROSS is an interesting prospect for the McNair outfit who could upset if he improves, though Dancin Lou offspring haven’t fared too well here this season, to my knowledge. (2) TWIN B CABO can sit an inside trip and round out tonight’s Hi-5.