Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (MIDCOURT) (5-2) - His task was made easier when "Gift Box' came up a late scratch. This 5yo has improved dramatically since last June and has won five of his last six, and in his only loss he broke poorly. He has a flexible style, a home field advantage, and I like his chances.
2nd pick: #8 (Endorsed) (9-2) - Strong finisher ships from Gulfstream where he won his seasonal debut going 8.5 furlongs over weaker Jan. 11. He earned a big figure in his first since finishing 4th in Saratoga's Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 and is a win candidate in this spot.
3rd pick: #2 (Two Thirty Five) - Older gelding tries hard every time, and this stalker has a very good local record (8-3-2-2). He's finished behind 'Midcourt' in his last pair, so he will have to be a bit sharper to reverse those decisions.
4th pick: #7 (Hofburg) (6-1) - Lightly raced, he placed in both the Florida Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) last year and won the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga July 27. Stretch runner is racing second back off a long layoff, and a fast and/or contested pace would help his chances out.