Mohawk continues its Standardbred 5 Nights Racing schedule with an 11-race card highlighted by the $75,000 Guaranteed Early Pick 5 starting in Race 1. Tonight’s lineup features a mix of claiming, conditioned, and stakes-caliber pacing and trotting events, drawing top drivers and trainers including Douglas McNair, Bob McClure, Louis-Philippe Roy, and James Macdonald.

The marquee event of the night is Race 9, a loaded Open Pace featuring some of the best older pacers at Mohawk Park. PRINCE HAL HANOVER headlines the field — a four-year-old with nearly $2 million in lifetime earnings who comes off a strong runner-up effort at Scioto Downs in a fast mile, and a close third in the Mohawk Gold Cup on North America Cup night. He’ll be challenged by CALICOJACK HANOVER, who finished second last week chasing last year’s Dan Patch Older Pacer of the Year, Ervin Hanover, and by proven veteran JORDY N, who’s been steady in-the-money company all season. With deep purse money and a stacked field of legitimate open-class talent, this race should be one of the most competitive and closely watched miles of the night — and anchors a key middle leg for horseplayers building Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 tickets.

Below is my full race-by-race breakdown with Top 3 contenders and a longshot value play for every race on the card.

Free Daily Sports Picks from Expert Handicappers

SPORTSHUB provides premium real-time betting information and analysis for upcoming sports events. Also, find sports picks from expert handicappers against the spread, money line picks, and total picks (over/under). View today’s free picks and service plays and bet on your favorite sports with confidence.

Woodbine Mohawk Park — Saturday, August 1, 2026 — All Races Analysis

Independent handicapping for all 11 races. Picks are based on recent form, class, post, driver/trainer efficiency, and recency (qualifiers/layoffs discounted) — not the morning line alone.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 1 – Pace, NW$20,000 Last 4 – Purse $33,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. CENTURY KOMODO (#5, ML 3-1) – Won wire-to-wire last week in 1:49.2, and driver Roy/trainer Menary is one of the strongest combos on the card (26% win, $2.12 ROI).
2. CHAIN GANG (#3, ML 7-2) – Two straight sharp closing efforts, including a win three starts back, show he’s peaking at the right time.
3. CAPTAIN FEAR NOT (#2, ML 8-1) – Just won impressively last week and sits with live post 2 to stay forward.
   Longshot Value: COLD CREEK QUESO (#10, ML 15-1) – Won last start driving from off the pace and is training on despite the wide post.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 2 – Pace, 3YO Grassroots/Prospect – Purse $32,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. P L TACO (#4, ML 8-1) – Won last week at Sarnia and has been building all season, showing real improvement in his last two.
2. EXACTLY CORRECT (#8, ML 3-1) – Won a Grassroots leg last week and has a very live closing kick despite the wide draw.
3. DAX SEELSTER (#2, ML 5-1) – Runner-up last week to a sharp field, and is a model of consistency near the board.
   Longshot Value: JOHNNY ANGEL (#3, ML 7-2) – Won four of his first five career starts and gets a fresh driver change to McNair after a tough back-of-the-pack trip last time.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 3 – NW$2,500L4/$5,000L8 – Purse $13,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. ITS MAJOR MAJOR A (#5, ML 5-2) – Set blistering fractions last week before tiring, and he draws a good post to control the pace tonight.
2. BET THE BB (#4, ML 5-1) – Dominated wire-to-wire in his last start at Georgian Downs, showing he’s sharp right now.
3. WHY WOULDNT YA (#6, ML 3-1) – Consistently in the money this season and gets a much better post than his last outing.
   Longshot Value: CAVIART SEACREST (#1, ML 6-1) – Drops in class in his second start off a break and gets the rail to save ground in a competitive field.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 4 – Pace, 3YO Grassroots/Prospect – Purse $32,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. HALL OF FEAR (#8, ML 3-1) – Two wins and two seconds from six sophomore tries, with a runner-up finish last week that shows continued improvement.
2. EVANS LEGACY (#5, ML 4-1) – Won impressively two starts back and draws a good post to work from.
3. MEGA MOVES (#4, ML 7-2) – His lifetime-best win came just four starts back, and he gets much-needed post relief tonight.
   Longshot Value: NEWTOWNSTREETBOMB (#7, ML 10-1) – Blew away his last field by 6+ lengths after apparent gait issues were resolved.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 5 – Trot, NW$6,000L4/$12,000L8 – Purse $17,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. STABLE GENIUS (#7, ML 3-1 CL$30,000) – Crushed a field of class-droppers last week and pairs with the hottest driver/trainer combo in the field (38% win with Menary).
2. MISTER MAGIC (#9, ML 5-1 CL$30,000) – Remarkably consistent 11-year-old who’s finished second in back-to-back starts.
3. MANOAH (#6, ML 9-2) – Was an easy winner at this exact class level seven starts back and drops right back down tonight.
   Longshot Value: MAXIMUM EXPOSURE (#1, ML 7-2) – Has raced competitively at this level in back-to-back starts and gets the rail to secure a good trip.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 6 – Claiming Handicap $30,000-$40,000 – Purse $20,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. WANNABEABIGSTAR (#5, ML 5-2) – Just won driving last week with a scorching 26 2/5 closing quarter, showing he’s peaking.
2. STICKEMINLETHIMGO (#8, ML 3-1) – Finished a clear second last week despite getting collared late, after an impossible trip the start before.
3. CODE CRACKER (#6, ML 9-2) – Consistent minor-money finisher who draws his best post of recent starts.
   Longshot Value: JJ XAVIER (#7, ML 6-1) – Led much of the way last week before fading from setting overly fast fractions; a different tactical approach could pay off.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 7 – NW2 Races or $30,000 Life – Purse $22,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. MAJOR MIKI (#6, ML 5-2) – Dominant winner in two of his last three starts and pairs with a red-hot trainer (50% win recently).
2. D A BODACIOUS (#9, ML 8-1) – Just posted a new lifetime-best mark winning last week, showing career-best form.
3. SUNSET LOO (#2, ML 6-1) – Closed for third last week and has been steadily competitive in this class.
   Longshot Value: BAJAN FIREFLY (#8, ML 5-1) – Has raced well against tougher Grassroots-type company his last two starts and should offer value with the public overlooking him.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 8 – 3YO Grassroots NW$16,500L4/$27,000L8 – Purse $28,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. SENDI KA (#3, ML 9-2) – Won last week after three straight sharp efforts, showing this colt is peaking in form.
2. ANIBAL DUHARAS (#9, ML 3-1) – Finished a narrow second to today’s top pick and gets a wider post that could set up better tactics.
3. TROUBLE WITH NAMES (#2, ML 7-2) – Closed for third last week and has a strong closing kick that could turn the tables.
   Longshot Value: THE GREEN GAZOO (#10, ML 5-1) – Has been closing into contention in recent starts and gets a live driver change.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 9 – Open Pace – Purse $44,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. PRINCE HAL HANOVER (#2, ML 2-1) – Elite class with nearly $2 million lifetime, finished second in a very fast mile last time out against top open company.
2. CALICOJACK HANOVER (#1, ML 4-1) – Finished second last week chasing the top pacer on the continent, showing he belongs in this spot.
3. JORDY N (#5, ML 10-1) – Finished third last week and remains a proven, consistent veteran closer in top open company.
   Longshot Value: DUBLIN DASHER (#3, ML 10-1) – Won two straight before an outmatched Open try last week; he still paced his own final half in 53-flat and drops back to a fairer spot tonight.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 10 – NW$9,000L4/$22,500L8 – Purse $24,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. AXIAL (#8, ML 3-1) – Strung together six sub-1:50 miles in a row with two wins, and gets class relief tonight.
2. DELRAY BEACH (#5, ML 6-1) – Nearly upset the field last week at 31-1 from a wide post, an outstanding effort that signals he’s ready to win.
3. SILVERWALLS (#1, ML 5-1) – Also strung together several sub-1:50 miles and finished third last week against tough sophomores.
   Longshot Value: MOMAS SON BYRNE (#9, ML 4-1) – Just missed by a head last week in a very tight finish and gets a live driver in Travis Henry.

═══════════════════════════════
RACE 11 – NW$6,000L4/$16,000L8 – Purse $17,000
═══════════════════════════════

1. DONT DROP THE BALL (#7, ML 7-2) – Got jammed up and forced to change course twice last week yet still rallied for fifth, and now drops in class off a quick turnaround.
2. NUCLEAR (#2, ML 10-1) – Faced a tougher field from the widest post last week; tonight he gets both class and post relief after a recent win.
3. LOUS WORLD (#4, ML 3-1) – Closed well late last week and draws a much better post than his last two starts.
   Longshot Value: FRANCO SANTANA N (#6, ML 9-2) – Won wire-to-wire last week and is training forward in good form.