Top pick: #6 (LONG RIVER) (2-1) - Lightly raced and beautifully-bred colt was highly thought of as a 2yo, but was sent in for a 7 1/2 month layoff following a poor effort here on Feb. 2nd in the (G3) "Withers" stakes. He's returned in fine form, and son of "A.P. Indy" was a winner at Belmont facing weaker Oct. 25th. That was a career best, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has him working sharply for this small stakes.
2nd pick: #5 (Vegas No Show) (5-1) - Speed/stalker cuts-back a bit in distance after tiring here going nine furlongs in the "Discovery Hdcp(G3) on Nov. 2nd. That broke a string of two straight wins in small stakes, and think he'll rebound today with a big effort.
3rd pick: #3 (Battier) (3-1) - One of two entered by trainer Todd Pletcher, and the pair race uncoupled. He has s fine overall record (12-4-2-3) on the dirt, and strong finisher gets a bit of "class" relief after competing in five straight "graded" stakes. Stretch threat.