Top pick: #5 (GOLDEN RIFLE) (9-5) - Lightly-raced and fast from the gate, colt by "Ghostzapper" has improved noticeably since early March and has gone 4-3-1-0 on the grass since that time. Four-year-old was an easy wire-to-wire winner on this course in an entry-level allowance May 23rd and earned a career best figure that afternoon. He's worked since and trainer Chad Brown continues on a meet long hot streak.
2nd pick: #2 (Thomas Hill) (4-1) - Veteran stalked, bid to the front, then weakened under pressure to finish fourth here last out. Trainer Gary Contessa brings him back in 18 days, and has him racing third back off a almost an 8-week break.
3rd pick: #3 (Special Skills) (7-2) - He rallied after a poor getaway to "neck" Thomas Hill out of the place spot on May 10th. It was his first since August 2nd and the figure achieved was by far a career best. Working fine since and this stakes placed gelding must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #7 (Mop Head) (8-1) - He raced evenly here at this distance facing a bit better on May 16th. It was his first start in nine months and trainer Dave Cannizzo has given him five weeks to recover. He drops slightly and should get a fast and/or contested pace to rally into. I believe a small slice is his ceiling.