2026 MEET STATS: 122 - 356 / $688.79 (-$23.21) BEST BETS: 23 - 36 / $74.26 (+$2.26) BEST BET: HIMSELF N (6th) SPOT PLAY: VENTURESOME ADREN N (3rd) Race 1: $50,000 Claiming Pace (6) BET ON BIG JOE was dropped into a $50K claimer last week and was promptly picked up by the Bako barn. He's 0 for 11 this year but has been relatively consistent and maybe the change in scenery with the new barn and driver gets him over the top; decent price looming. (1) ODDS ON CAPITALISM beat a NW15000 field two back and should fit well here for top connections. (3) KOPI LUWAK debuts for Laterza and the ex-Burke trainee gets regular barn driver Holland. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $40,000 Claiming Pace (2) MANFERNO totally turned things around when returning to Yonkers a couple of months back and the drop in class combined with the improved post should make this veteran tough to beat. (5) OVERTHINKING returns to Bartlett and they teamed up to just miss two back. (1) OURMATEMENKO N was a good second last week and there's no reason to think he won't be right in the mix from this inside post. Race 3: NW10381 in last 5 starts Pace (2) VENTURESOME ADREN N will have to go significantly faster than he has recently but he's much-improved and has plenty of back class. He’s missed a couple of weeks which could be a concern for a horse who hasn’t been entirely right but he’s capable of beating these on his best day. (4) COALFORD TOPGUY GB continues to make money while eligible for this class and he'll be right there again. (1) HEZA RISK TAKER didn't pick up any ground in last week's rated mile but he just missed in his prior start. Race 4: $40,000 Claiming Pace (1) SINBAD N drops right back to the $40K claiming level where he was a solid winner from the seven hole two starts back and the Pete Tritton trainee is absolutely the one to beat here. (4) BE DAZZLED LOU A also drops back to the level of his last win, can push forward off the gate and the Bongiorno trainee is the biggest threat to the top one. (2) ORLANDO BLUE A has taken two of three in this class and the off-the-pace type will probably have a chance to do some late running at some point deep in the mile. Race 5: $15,000 Claiming Pace (1) GOTHIC ROCK picks up Holland tonight and has a solid chance of sitting the pocket trip to the heavily favorite; I'll take my chances with the much better price through the stretch run. (5) SHINE A LIGHT has his entire bingo card filled with 1's and he goes for nine straight with his seventh different trainer. He's been five cents on the dollar four of the last five but he has to lose eventually. (4) SARANAC BLUE CHIP was better last week finishing second to the favorite and that was after the drop down to $15K claimers. Race 6: NW7771 in last 5 starts Pace (2) HIMSELF N brushed and crushed on the drop to the basement; sharp sort can come right back facing better. (6) GDS THUNDER GB can leave the gate and he'll be a factor at a price if he can land somewhere near the front. (4) ROLLING WITH SAM almost beat $40K claimers back in March. Race 7: NW21281 in last 5 starts Pace (4) RENALDO N ended up in an impossible spot last week but two back he missed a neck in a 1:51 3/5 mile. Regular driver Lauren Tritton may try getting him to the front. (2) MATAI PHIL N was sitting on a big effort and he came through last week from the eight hole. Now can he string two wins together? (1) BOSTON BOUND picked up Bartlett and won; stays at the same level with the same driver and is probably worthy of his 9/5 ML status. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 8: NW33871 in last 5 starts Pace (5) TWISTED DESTINY is a lightly-raced 4YO facing much more seasoned foes here but he did win comfortably last start when he dropped out of the Borgata putting him over $500K lifetime. I think the Chris Ryder trainee can compete with these. (4) COPPERFIELD gets Bartlett back in the bike for leading trainer Engblom. (2) THE GREEK FREAK folded on the lead last start but he's better than that. Race 9: NW15001 in last 5 starts Pace Hard to imagine (1) VERDUN losing in a NW15000 event, especially from the rail. He faces another coming from the Borgata series but the Lachance student deserves the call to get into the win column. (5) CATALPA RESCUE A is also winless on the season but the Blackler trainee gets Bartlett in the bike tonight and is the clear threat to the top one. (4) HEMSWORTH N only has one pari-mutuel race in the last five weeks but the veteran has plenty of class and is capable.