Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Tuesday 8/20

Top Pick Stats: 447 - 1286 / $2,440.80 (-$131.20)

Best Bets: 63 - 120 / $197.70 (-$42.30)

Spot Plays: 29 - 117 / $280.30 (+$46.30)

Best Bet: JACK N ABS (3RD)

Spot Play: CALL YOU UP (4TH)

Early Pick 5: 4,5/2,3,4/3/2,8/3,5,8 = $7.20

Late Pick 5: 3,4,7/3,7,9/3,4,8/6/5,6,9 = $16.20

Early Pick 4: 8/3,5,8/3,4,7/3,7,9 = $5.40

Late Pick 4: 3,7,9/3,4,8/6/5,6,9 = $5.40

Race 1: 2YO fillies NW1 or $8,000 LT **Gtd. $100,000 Pick 5**

This race will likely come down to (5) EXQUISITE TASTE and (4) SPRITE SEELSTER and both of which are Gold-placed. I’ll give the nod to the former who has shown more pop leaving the gate. (7) ALL STAR ANGEL closed well at the end of her debut now she gets the leading driver. She is worth a look at what should be a good price for the early Pick 5. (1) ROYAL SAUCE made two moves when 2nd in a Grassroots race last time and she is in the exotics ix again.

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Race 2: 2YO colts and geldings NW1 or $8,000 LT

Wide-open race here and I’ll take a shot with (3) REIGNING CAPTAIN who fires sub-28 kickers in every start and is bound to take a leap forward soon. (4) STRONGMAN HANOVER improved in each of his last two starts and if he can find a helmet to follow this week, he may find himself in the winner’s circle; using. (2) SILKY CHOICE’s debut was good enough to make him a contender here in his second start and he is another possibility for the early Pick 5. Takter owned and trained (6) COOKIE AIR was better in his qualifier of 7/20 but he has missed a month now. He will probably get overbet with the leading driver in the bike and I’ll play to beat him.

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Race 3: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 4. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS

(3) JACK N ABS was patiently driven last week and he produced a nice closing effort that should set him up for this Grassroots leg. He should get much more aggressive now facing an easier field and he is the one to beat at a short price. (1) ROYAL DUHARAS adds Lasix and he has already won a Grassroots leg. He will likely complete a chalky Exacta. (5) MARKET BANKER was beaten only 1/2 a length three starts back in a Grassroots race. He is worth using underneath at a price. (7) SID THE KID qualified well on 8/14. If he stays flat, he can get a share.

Race 4: 2YO fillies NW1 or $8,000 LT - Pick 4

(8) CALL YOU UP got a tough trip on debut and she can beat these if she can work out a better journey tonight; top call. (2) TWIN B FLAME improved sharply in her last start and produced a fast kicker. She will likely be the one to fend off late here. (5) TWIN B BODACIOUS flashed speed, took a bit of a shuffle then finished willingly but she was passed by Twin B Flame. I think she takes another small share here. (1) HURRIKANE ALLEY comes off a dominant win at Kawartha Downs but it was in slow time. She attracts Macdonald which is noteworthy. I can see her passing a few of these late to land in the bottom of the exotics.

Race 5: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GRASSROOTS LEG 4. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS

(8) GRAMBLING HALL steps into the Grassroots series following three good starts in conditioned races and he certainly appears fast enough for these. He needs points in a hurry starting up in leg 4 and I’ll give him top billing here. (3) THE CANAM BANKER tuned up for this leg with a nice win last week where he held off the chalk late. He is an obvious threat. (5) R NO MERCY is 2 for 2 on the year and he gets McNair back tonight. He is hard to leave off multi-race tickets but he might get over bet here. (10) SLAYIN THEDAY AWAY would be rated higher if he drew better. A small share is likely for him starting from out there.

Race 6: 2YO colts and geldings NW1 or $11,000 LT - Pick 5

(4) THAT DUDE’s debut was good as he passed horses in an accelerating late pace. He can win here if he gets more aggressive early in the mile; top call. (7) ALL VALLEY will take plenty of action back in with maidens tonight and he will likely be the one to catch; using. (3) THE BEAR A CUDA has taken shares in three Grassroots races and he will likely be passing rivals late in this spot. He is another possibility for late multi-race tickets. (6) STMIKES KERRYBLUES was two lengths back of the choice last time and he will likely sit close to the front again and take another slice.

Race 7: 2YO NW2 or $21,500 LT - Pick 4

(3) LILLY LACE was raced more aggressively in her second start as expected and she got the job done. She has upside and she should offer a good price here stepping up to NW2. (9) INCANTATION is a Grand Circuit winner that can probably crush these if she stays flat, but what price will you take on a filly that has broke in three of her last five starts? (7) GO AHEAD MAKEMYDAY was a clear leader and looked like the winner when he jumped it off in the lane last time. He is another contender that brings some added risk coming off that break in stride. (10) RICH GIRL has been good in Grassroots races but she probably gets an easy trip from post 10 this time; using on the bottom.

Race 8: 5YO and younger NW3 or $57,000 LT AE: 4YO NW1 L10

(3) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS was given an easy trip in his first start back from a rest and he finished well. He draws better now, and I think he gets more aggressive now. I’ll take a price stab with him here. (8) SOUTHERN MONI clearly has the best current form of any of these, but he typically closes from far back. He is an obvious contender but what price would you take on him passing all or most of his rivals tonight? (4) BBC SPORTSBOY is one of few in here that figures to leave quickly and he could last a long way on the engine here; using. (1) MUSICAL RIDE steps up off a dominant NW2 win and he can take a slice vs. these.

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Race 9: NW $2,000 L3 AE: OPT CLM $20,000 AE: NW $8,000 in 2024 AE: N/A $1,120 P/S in 2023-24

(6) SHADRACK HANOVER drops to a logical spot here and McClure will likely look to send him right down the road vs. these; top call. (8) SWAN DIEGO just jogged last week and he figures to get another good trip racing close to the front; using. (7) QUEBEC HANOVER looked good on the lead last week until he jumped it off heading into the final turn. He has a shot if he stays trotting but it’s hard to predict if he will do so. (3) EXPLOSIVE MOTION was decent when 2nd to Swan Diego and he should get another slice here.

Race 10: F&M Claiming $20,000 for NW $30,000 LT

This race will likely come down to (6) ALWAYS A CATCH and (5) NO MONEY HONEY, who were 1-2 in this class last week. Slight nod to the former who had the tougher trip that night. (9) LADYSMITH comes in from Grand River showing a string of Exacta finishes. Her speed makes her a threat and she is another to consider for late multi-race tickets. (4) IWISHIHADAME was 3rd to the top two in a decent effort last week and she is in the exotics mix here. (3) LOVE ON ME tried to close into a 28-flat kicker and that didn’t work out. She could better this placing if the pace slows late tonight.