2023 MEET STATS: 39 - 103 / $172.60 (-$33.40) BEST BETS: 8 - 10 / $23.70 (+$3.70) Best Bet: ROCKIN WITHELVIS A (9th) Spot Play: WALKINSHAW N (11th) Race 1: $50,000 Claiming Pace (4) BALLARAT BOOMERANG is a classy veteran who I admittedly overlooked last week then watched in frustration as he fired to the front and sailed down the road with plenty left. Obviously the price goes down but he'll repeat with a similar effort. (2) BARBADOS was odds-on in the race the top choice won and he came uncovered into the rated pace and never budged. Can he bounce back second-time for this barn or is the form spree done? (1) THRASHER had good late pace in his seasonal debut and while he does step up to face better he draws well and the Garcia-Herrera barn is rounding into midseason form. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace (6) SPLASH BROTHER had no chance from the eight hole in his seasonal debut and despite trailing throughout he did finish with a :27 last split. Schnittker trainee faces softer here and the $131K earner from a season ago will likely be pointed to the front. (3) WINDSUN RICKY steps up the class ladder again looking for his third straight and this veteran may have another level in him. (1) GINGRAS BEACH gets some class relief, draws the rail and picks up Brennan; Bucci trainee should land a piece. Race 3: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace (3) PYRO showed his class last week when he blew away lesser in a variant-busting 1:51 flat. Step up to face better won't matter if he brings a similar effort. (6) SOUTHWIND SANDOR raced very well to be second best in his local return and the Cullipher trainee deserves a look despite moving outside a couple of notches. (4) MOTIVE HANOVER was aggressively handled in his last couple facing better and it didn't work out; Bongiorno trainee may be forwardly placed again but not hopefully not used as hard. Race 4: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace Tough race to figure out where they all appear to have a chance. (4) GENERAL MONTANA N may lack the class of others in here but that was an okay effort last week where he kept pace in a quick back half and Joe B is back driving tonight. He should be a good price in here. (2) MARLBANK ROAD was second best at this level two back from an inside post and was Holland's choice over #6. (6) QUALITY BUD rode the rail last week as the winner was powering away and he appeared to have pace but was jammed up late; Yannick gets the drive tonight. Race 5: Open Pace Another tough race and even the computerized morning-line oddsmaker didn't know what to do. (5) THE IDEAL DANCER A has been the model of consistency lately as he's made his way up the class ladder and the Harris trainee gets leading driver Bartlett back in the bike from a post where he's got options. (1) BEE TWO BEE has had success here in the past and the Burke trainee should be a bit tighter making his second start off a nearly five month hiatus. (7) NICHOLAS BEACH put it all together in a blowout win recently at The Meadowlands. Post isn't ideal so we'll see how aggressive Joe B gets early on. Race 6: $30,000 Claiming Pace (6) MACINTOSH N was able to clear the front rather easily from the eight hole last week and he came up just a bit short in the late stages. 14-year-old classmaster has Gingras driving again and there doesn't appear to be a ton of speed to his inside. (2) GINGER CREEK PETE wired this class two back then never got involved last start in the same race #6 comes out of. Move inside may make Holland more aggressive. (5) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has raced well in two starts since the Andrew Adamczyk claim. Race 7: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace (5) NVESTMENT BLUECHIP wasn't that far off in his last couple despite seeming a bit overmatched. Three back he was a good second at a big price versus similar and Bartlett drives again in a race with no standouts. (2) CHANGE STRIDE N was aggressively handled last week when in against $40K claimers and he tired late; this looks like a good spot for the veteran. (3) CAN B PERFECT had a good flow to work into and rallied from last to first in beating lesser last week; interestingly Holland opts off to drive #4. Race 8: Open Pace We get two Opens tonight, with horses likely tuning up for the upcoming Borgata series. (4) SEMI TOUGH never got underway in his last start at Dover but he's back at his preferred venue and Gingras is back driving. If he can generate some early speed to get up close the Burke trainee has a legit chance. (3) LEONIDAS A raced well in his seasonal debut and logically he should be tighter in his second race back. (5) BACKSTREET SHADOW returns locally now in the Travis Alexander barn. He may not be in the upper echelon of pacers anymore but he's still a legit player with this type. Race 9: NW30541 in last 5 starts Pace (6) ROCKIN WITHELVIS A had zero chance last week when the winner cut :28 4/5 and :58 2/5 splits but he finished well. Recent import has looked good through his three U.S. starts though we have yet to see strong early speed. Maybe tonight's the night. (1) DEAN B HANOVER double-jumps in class off a win but doesn't face many proven types at this level and the Gillis trainee draws the rail again. (7) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N has been right there in all recent efforts and was a strong winner in his last start. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: $40,000 Claiming Pace (1) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD was loaded with pace first out for this barn and he stays at a winning level; likely repeater at a short price. (7) CAPTIVATE HANOVER gave it his all in a two-move effort last week but flattened late; he deserves another look off that effort. (5) OSTRO HANOVER dropped, came off the pace and rallied well; he may revert back to speed tactics from this spot. Race 11: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace (2) WALKINSHAW N had no chance from trailing position last week but just throw that line out in my opinion; classy veteran gets major post relief and also gets Gingras in the bike tonight. Top contender. (1) DIAMONDBEACH has been leaving the gate well in recent weeks and is the likely pacesetter here as Braxton Boyd's choice. (6) B LIKE CRUISER was very good in defeat against lesser last start; he could land a share at a price with a smooth trip. 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