Top pick: #6 (MASOCHISTIC) (8-5) - Very lightly-raced and speedy, he makes her first start against winners after breaking his maiden by 14-lengths on the Churchill Downs dirt on May 3rd. Working fast locally for this attempt and this gelding looks to have a bright future.
2nd pick: #4 (Courtside) (4-1) - Veteran has gone 33-9-8-2 overall and is 7-2-1-1 locally. Speed/stalker was a winner on July 4th at Los Alamitos when facing mid-level starter-allowance foes and is a win candidate this afternoon.
3rd pick: #7 (Relentless Heat) (8-1) - Price play likes to rally from far back and should get a solid pace picture to close into. Can grab a share, but would have to step it up considerably to challenge the top two selections.
4th pick: #5 (Smogcutter) - Recent maiden winner at Los Alamitos did so in front-running style at this trip on July 12th. It was his first since early October and first for trainer Dan Blacker. He's worked well since and has room for upside.