Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #9 (SPARKLING SKY) (7-2) - She was a sharp maiden winner at this distance Sept. 1 at Saratoga, then rallied to finish a close up 4th in the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes at the same trip Sept. 29 at Belmont. She lost position at the break that day when pinched out of the gate. From the Pletcher barn, this $650K daughter of 'More Than Ready' enters off a fast half-mile breeze Oct. 20, and I like her chances.
2nd pick: #10 (Astoria Kitten) (9-2) - She hit the gate and tired when debuting Aug. 14 at Saratoga. Heavily backed that day (even-money), she came back with an easy three-length wire-to-wire maiden win Sept. 27 at Belmont. A win candidate today.
3rd pick: #5 (English Breeze) (4-1) - State bred won her debut Aug. 14 at Saratoga facing fellow New York breds. Sharp in her last pair of stakes against 'open' company, stretch runner fits and must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #2 (Bredenbury) (5-1) - Irish import went 4-1-1-1 racing in England and has lasix added for her first in No. America. She runs off a trainer change to Graham Motion, 24% with new imports, and he has Javier Castellano aboard.