2026 MEET STATS: 65 - 193 / $341.72 (-$44.28) BEST BETS: 11 - 19 / $35.38 (-$2.62) BEST BET: REDWOOD HANOVER (3rd) SPOT PLAY: AMERITRIC (8th) Race 1: $50,000 Claiming Pace (6) BE DAZZLED LOU A has won three straight since being claimed by the Bongiorno barn for $20K. Obviously he's ambitiously placed here in for $50K and he draws poorly but there's something I like about a sharp horse who has picked up a winning habit. (2) GDS THUNDER GB was racing very respectably facing better and fits well here. (1) LYONS BENJAMIN could not sustain a second move last week but he's all the way inside now and is likely to be cutting the mile. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: MGM Borgata Pace Leg #1 And so it begins...the 2026 Borgata series. (4) CELTIC SPIRIT N ships in from Ohio to join the Joe Bongiorno barn and while this is a major class test what better time than now to see if he belongs? Clearly the speed and talent is there as we witnessed what he has done with Dan and Christi Noble at Scioto and Northfield, and he catches a soft division. (1) SOHO FIRESTONE A makes his seasonal debut off a wicked qualifier and he's clearly the most accomplished of the others. (3) ALWAYS A THRILL also has the talent and figures to be more involved than he was in his last two races. Race 3: MGM Borgata Pace Leg #1 (1) REDWOOD HANOVER makes his 6YO debut for the Engblom barn coming off of two qualifiers with Lasix added. He may not have to be 100% to win from this spot. (5) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A draws the outermost post but the good news is there's only five in here. Blackler trainee is 15 for 33 lifetime at Yonkers - a stat very hard to ignore. (3) TWISTED DESTINY had a pretty solid 3YO campaign for the Chris Ryder barn and makes his first start since early last November. Qualified twice, with good progression from the first to second. Race 4: MGM Borgata Pace Leg #1 (1) VERDUN started his campaign for Lachance at the beginning of the month and he's already put in four very useful efforts. Perhaps he can trip out and pull off a minor surprise over a few debuting rivals. (2) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR earned just under $400K last year and the millionaire 6YO is arguably the most talented in here. Though he qualified flawlessly it was only one prep before being thrown into action so is he vulnerable here at a short price? (5) CATALPA RESCUE A has hit the board in five seasonal races though without a win to show for it but the fact that he's been racing regularly could work to his advantage. Race 5: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace - $10,000 GTD PICK-5 POOL (1) VICIOUS has done well for these connections since the $75K claim last month and gets the call with the move inside and post edge. (5) CURLY JAMES A is a couple of necks shy of a five-race win streak and the Bako trainee figures to be trying for the front again. (3) COPPERFIELD was impressive in his seasonal debut over at The Meadowlands and he was 7 for 19 at Yonkers last year. His last local win was with Bartlett in the bike. Race 6: MGM Borgata Pace Leg #1 (1) CAPTAIN ALBANO was one of the top pacers in the land last year and if trainer Noel Daley thinks he's ready after one even qualifier who am I to argue? (3) DONEGAL LUTHER N finished very willingly in his North American debut and clearly the Bako import can take a step forward off that effort; very dangerous. (6) MOSSDALE BEN N is back to defend his title but he draws worst and there will be no :28 1/5 and :57 2/5's to be seen tonight, like last week. Race 7: MGM Borgata Pace Leg #1 (1) ARODA N is a fresh face to the Shane Tritton barn and he arrives from Down Under and goes straight to stakes action. He qualified sharply twice with Lauren Tritton driving and she's in the bike again from the innermost post. Perhaps the import can trip out from second or third behind multiple potential speed players in here. (6) COACHES CORNER danced every dance last year en route to almost $700K in earnings and has to be respected as one of the top aged pacers on the continent. (2) CAPTAIN MOORE A is another Blackler import who has performed well and he's got a recency edge on these having won here last start. Race 8: $40,000 Claiming Pace (2) AMERITRIC was away last from the eight hole in a race that went :58 4/5 to the half so you can toss last week's race out; prior efforts from legit spots have all been competitive. (4) LUCAPELO was a close third in his return from Pocono and the Stratton trainee is overdue. (1) LYRICAL GENIUS A is up in class again for a new barn and has controlling speed from the rail with Bartlett. Race 9: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace (7) HEMSWORTH N draws poorly again but he's very sharp and classy; hopefully Siegelman can get moving off the gate or else he may be in a tough spot, with (8) AMERICAN DEALER N likely firing going for three straight after the move to Burke. These two accomplished veterans are hard to discount despite the posts. (3) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N gives up a major class edge to others but he's been good since moving to the Engblom barn and picking up Bartlett. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace (5) THE BIGBOSS A faces one of the softer fields he's seen in a while and I think this is a spot where Kakaley can get aggressive. (2) ALL ALONE get a new driver in the catch-driving Gingras in his second start after dropping to this level; good draw again looking to improve on his last effort. (6) VENTURESOME ARDEN N has been a successful pacer in the past but he's been off since last August and had a so-so qualifier. Bartlett driving is a plus. Race 11: $15,000 Claiming Pace (5) SHINE A LIGHT has won five of six and stays at the winning level; deserving odds-on favorite in the finale. (4) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK makes his second start after being reclaimed by the Alexander barn and will look to right the ship after a couple of double-digit losses. (1) METAMAN finished close the last time he was drawn inside.