Top pick: #7 (COUNTESS TWICE) (5-1) - Good barn (Steve Asmussen) drops this filly a bit in class and switches her from turf to dirt. She's been racing evenly on the grass and meets a weak field in this afternoon's finale.
2nd pick: #4 (Marriedtomichael) (6-1) - She comes off a useful effort at Belmont on a sloppy surface facing a bit tougher Oct. 16. She rushed up to contest the pace following a stumbling start and tired during the stretch run. With Irad Ortiz Jr. at Santa Anita today, trainer Bruce Brown reaches out to veteran speed specialist C.C.Lopez. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #10 (Literata) (5-2) - She showed good early speed last out facing tougher going a mile and tired readily during the stretch run. It was her first on the dirt and first in blinkers. A fine small barn (Mike Dilger) drops her way down in class and shortens her up a bit in distance. In the mix, but she may be over-bet a bit.
4th pick: #9 (Peach Lake) (6-1) - Veteran maiden has gone 13-0-2-2 on the dirt and all of her placings have come on wet tracks. That valuable experience can land her another minor award in this largely lightly raced field.
5th pick: #3 (Built in a Day) (9-2) - Claimed for $40K when she debuted at Saratoga in late July, she raced evenly on a sloppy track for that same price Oct. 16 at Belmont in her first for the new barn. Well bred filly is making back-to-back starts for the first time and must be left in the mix.