Top Pick Stats: 115/384 = -$78.60 Best Bets: 12/38 = –$19.20; Spot Plays: 7/38 = -$10.70 Best Bet: CHICAGO HALL (RACE 10) Spot Play: ANGOSTURA HANOVER (RACE 5) Early Pick 5: 1,6,7/4,5,6/1,2,3,9/7/9 Late Pick 5: 2/3/1,2,3,6/2,4,5,8/4 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (7) MISTY COVE was getting ready to leave out from the middle of the gate before putting in steps as the wings unfolded. He regathered himself and was able to flush out cover and finished evenly in a 4th place effort. This colt hasn’t been able to piece some good starts together after a pair of enticing qualifiers and is one that I’ll go back to in this spot, and hope he can put it all together in this Friday opener. (6) ZANDER disappointed as the chalk in his sophomore debut after just falling short by a nose. This 3YO son of Dali came a first-over journey in his latest to just miss, and should be even tighter coming into start number two off an effort like that. He’s the one to beat. (1) SOS SPORTS BET was aggressively handled despite drawing the far outside and hung around to be 3rd. It was a step in the right direction and is one who is capable of building off that effort; using. (8) IDEAL BEACHWHERE was 5th in his first start of 2025. He can hit the ticket in start number two. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $30,500) LIFETIME. (4) MY WAY is one that I’ll take a flier with here in race number two. This son of Muscle Mass has been babied over his last couple of tries, and even made a miscue in his latest as they approached the 3/4 pole. He has the talent to take down this group, so long as he minds his manners, and this evening he’ll be debuting with trotting hopples for the first time in his career. This might be a tough ask, but this isn’t the toughest nw2 we’ve seen, and I’ll hope his talent can prevail and he can piece it together this evening. (6) GASLIGHT HALL will make his sophomore debut after a freshman campaign that saw him win once in nine tries. He raced in the Kentucky Sires Stakes and held his own in some of those tries. He is coming off a lone qualifier where he was 6th in that contest, but he trotted the lane just fine, in what I viewed as a fitness tightener. He’s probably the one to beat coming into this outing. (5) RITCHIE RITCH is coming off a nice win, where he was aggressively handled from pp10. Once he touched down to the lead, he never looked back, and this is a horse who can step up, and get the job done despite an uptick in class here. (8) GO BLUE was aggressively handled in his latest and stuck around to be 3rd. He has grabbed the show spot in both his starts this year and should have every chance at a piece in this spot.   Race 3: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. (1) AARDIES MONEY N is set to make her North American debut off a trio of qualifiers. She was a strong winner in her latest but she has looked a bit steppy in each of those efforts (including going off stride in qualifier number 2). She is one I think that can get the job done in this spot, so long as she minds her manners, and I’ll give her the nod. (2) MAI TIDE steps up in nw2 off a pair of victories in the maiden ranks. She dropped more time in that effort and is a perfect 2-2 to start her sophomore campaign. She can continue to progress and is a contender with a trip. (9) NICE BUNS will make her sophomore debut off a pair of qualifiers. She qualified with some nice fillies and angled out late in the stretch and was moving forward in a 4th place effort. She draws outside but she can grab a piece here. (3) KALICO SEELSTER was never a factor in her most recent try, but her qualifier on 4/4 was one that I liked. She draws inside and might be a sleeper player here. Race 4: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 RACES OR $82,000 LIFETIME. (7) AU JUS HANOVER will gear up for her 3YO debut vs. older rivals here this evening. She is coming off a pair of sharp qualifiers and while there’s a chance she is handled conservatively in her sophomore debut, I think she’s good enough to take down this group at first asking; top call. (5) PICK ME UP HANOVER is another 3YO filly who will be making her sophomore debut after what was a strong rookie campaign. She, too, is coming off a pair of qualifiers, and was a runner up finisher to the choice in her most recent. She draws the middle of the gate and should have every opportunity to grab a good piece. (1) SWIFT TALKER has hit the board in 4 of her last 5 tries. She draws the rail and should be able to work out a stalking trip this evening. (9) COCCO PUFF POWER went gate to wire in her latest without any issues this time around. She has looked sharper since adding Lasix two starts ago but will have to work from an outside draw this evening. Race 5: FILLIES & MARES, NW $15,000 LAST 5 OR NW $35,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. (9) ANGOSTURA HANOVER moved her way back up to the Preferred after a strong victory two starts back. She was 4th in vs. tougher company but showed very good late speed, and is one that seems to be finding her form yet again. She can float out for early positioning despite an outside draw, and I’ll give her top honors in this spot. (5) SETTN A PRECEDENT exits the same race as the one above and was never a factor. She got shuffled along the inside and was behind a wall of mares, but did not offer up the same pop late as the choice. She has a post advantage and should appreciate the class drop, and can be a factor here with the right trip. (1) WESTERN WISH never had a chance last time out when she moved her way back up to the Preferred. She was in too tough in that spot and drops back at a level where she should be given every opportunity to notch a win. (7) GLENBORO hasn’t hit the board over her last two tries. She finds herself in a softer spot and should be put in play, and that can be good enough to grab a share. Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) OR $8,500 LIFETIME. (2) HAZARDOS is coming off a pair of qualifiers as he gears up for his sophomore debut. He drifted out wide in both of those preps but was pacing well when straight. He was runner-up to a rival in his most recent, who just scored convincingly in his first start of 2025, and I’ll give this colt the nod to do the same as well. (6) NOVA BLU was a good 2nd in his latest after being first-over a long way.. He draws well in this spot and will once again take on a group that should be to his liking, and will be given every opportunity to break his maiden this evening, so long as he can work out a more favorable trip. (3) HELLO DARKNESS followed cover behind the one above and finished just narrowly behind him in his career debut. He had every opportunity to go by the one above but settled for the show spot. He can build off that effort but he’ll have to find a little more. (7) GOUDA MAN is coming off a 2nd place qualifying effort as he gears up for his first start as a 3YO. He adds Lasix for this try and is one that can land on the ticket. Race 7: CANADIAN SIRED GRADUATE SERIES TROT: CANADIAN SIRED 4 YEAR OLDS. LEG 2. (3) PAQUET cruised to an easy victory in this first leg of the Graduate. He will face a full field this time out, but that shouldn’t change the outcome; he’ll be tough to take down. (2) MASSTERCRAFT never got clearance until late in the stretch and had to settle for 4th. He was full of trot but just ran out of racetrack and could’ve got a bigger piece. He will have a tough time beating the one above, but is a perfect exacta player underneath. (1) R PEAKY BLINDERS was 2nd to the choice in his latest. He’s been showing good trot at the end of his miles over the last couple of starts and is one that will be heard from late. (5) SID THE KID left out for early positioning and hung on to be 2nd in his latest. He draws well, will be aggressively handled, and can hang on for a share in this spot.  Race 8: FILLIES & MARES, NW $3,200 LAST 5 OR NW $13,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. (3) CHICKABELL came first up in her latest and stuck around to be 3rd. She couldn’t go by a stubborn pace setter and lose to a sharp rival who she towed into contention. She draws much better this evening and that’ll help her chances to find the winner’s circle in this spot. (2) ONE LAST BET was locked in the pocket searching for a place to go. She couldn’t find a seam and was a tight 4th. She could have better success with a cleaner trip and is a contender in this spot. (1) BETTER BE DONNA was aggressively handled in her latest and hung in tough until the very end. She got picked off at the wire by a sharp rival who worked out a perfect trip, and this is a mare who should be sitting on a strong effort this evening. (6) TRIBAL DANCER left out aggressively and never left the cones in a 6th place effort. She draws well, should be forwardly placed once again, and there’s a chance that she looks to bottom out this field. Race 9: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $30,000 (OS $44,000) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (2) ABOVEMYPAYGRADE ships into this race having won four starts in a row, including 5 out of his last 6. He is extremely sharp right now and hooks a field that has been struggling to find the winner’s circle, and that might just be enough to continue his winning ways here. (4) LANESIDE SPORTSTAR left out aggressively to sit close despite drawing the 10 hole. He was 2nd in a race where the back field got activated, and he could benefit from having a much better post to work with this evening. (5) DIAMOND RYDER has failed to hit the board in 5 of his last 6 but has been better over his last two. He draws well and can sit a favorable trip in this spot, making him a threat in this field. (8) B SONNY was an absolute handful in his latest and could never settle for Louis-Philippe Roy. He hasn’t hit the board in 7 tries this year but could get a big piece if he could settle down this evening. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $30,500) LIFETIME. (4) CHICAGO HALL nabbed the show spot behind a pair of rivals who have been racing well as of late. This 3YO gelded son of Muscle Mass broke his maiden convincingly two starts back, and should have every opportunity to find the winner’s circle in his second try at this nw2 level. (1) EXQUISITE TASTE enters this contest off back-to-back wins. She took on fillies in her most recent and still got up for the score despite a tough trip. She will now take on colts and geldings in this spot but is still racing well enough to put forth a good effort here.  (5) UNGAWA stepped up to the nw2 ranks after a strong maiden-breaking score in his career debut. This 3YO son of Greenshoe never had a chance in his latest after working out an uneventful trip. He should appreciate having a race at this level under his belt and could be sitting on an improved effort. (6) WILDTURKEY HANOVER was never a factor in his first start as a 3YO. He trotted the lane evenly and likely needed that start and is one that is definitely worth monitoring going forward. Race 11: FILLIES & MARES, NW $9,800 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. (3) CHIEFS DREAM GIRL hasn’t been a factor over her last two tries after stepping up in class to take on tougher company. She was a winner at this level three starts ago when she motored strongly past her rivals and she can replicate a similar performance here; top call. (1) SHOOT THE WHISKEY exits the same race as the one above and she, too, wasn’t a factor. She was a winner at this level when last seen here on 3/14 and is one of the main contenders in this spot. (2) MS QUICK SAND takes a dip back to this level where she was a winner just two starts ago. She was aggressively handled and went gate to wire in that contest, and is one that will likely look to replicate a similar effort here. (6) LADY GET LUCKY was just okay in her latest in a 6th place effort. She was loaded with pace coming home late in the mile two starts back and should have a chance to land on the ticket here. (9) BETTERNOTMATCHME has hit the board in five straight tries and she should be able to land somewhere on this hi 5 despite her draw.