Top pick: #8 (SPA CITY FEVER) (6-1) - Veteran loves this distance 8-2-4-1 and comes into this off a fourth place finish at Belmont in the $250K "Empire Classic" on Oct. 19. Stalker draws a nice outside post and can take this at a square price.
2nd pick: #4 (Brigand) (4-1) - Speedy sort has an excellent record at this distance (4-2-2-0) and is working very fast for his first since late Sept. In the Baffert barn and a win candidate this afternoon.
3rd pick: #9 (Zetterholm) (8-1) - He had a bright future back in the late spring of 2012, but was injured and is trying to race himself back into shape. He was only a 1/2 length back of "Fever" last out and that was a nice positive experience.
4th pick: #10 (Awesome Vision) (6-1) - Colt is 3-for-4 at this trip and won a stakes here at the distance last March in his only previous attempt on this surface. Must be left in the mix of a pretty "deep" field.
5th pick: #5 (Socialsaul) (15-1) - He has plenty of back class, and was a sharp winner at Belmont in late Sept. when racing for a $25K tag. Claimed that afternoon by Pat Reynolds ("Big Brown's" original trainer), gelding has been freshened up, is working fine, and could factor at a big price.