Top pick: #4 (MELANISTIC) (4-1) - Veteran mare has eleven lifetime wins and all have come on conventional dirt. She was a winner here at this level and distance July 13th, then ran evenly last out on the Del Mar "poly." Stalker draws outside of the speed and gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #1 (Love the Breeding) (3-1) - Filly ships from the West Coast where she went 13-5-1-2 racing on conventional dirt. Strong finisher runs off a trainer switch to Bob Hess Jr., draws the rail, and is a win threat from off the pace.
3rd pick: #2 (Tacit Approval) (4-1) - The main speed, lightly raced daughter of "Tapit" is undefeated (2 for 2) on real dirt and was an easy winner in an upper-level starter-allowance July 11th. She earned a career best figure that day and is a win threat on the lead.
4th pick: #3 (Front Range) (2-1) - From the Baffert barn, lightly-raced home bred by "Giant's Causeway" ran both wide and evenly at this level and distance at Del Mar on Aug. 2. She's gone 3-1-0-2 on real dirt and fits with her best.