Top pick: #1 (RON THE GREEK) - He's always had ability, but has improved dramatically since being transferred to the barn of "Hall of famer" Bill Mott a year ago. He's gone (8-4-4-0) since then and is (4-2-2-0) in his last four appearances, all in G1 stakes. Working fast for this, he was probably best last out when having to rally while 7 wide when finishing second to today's rival "Fort Larned" in the (G1) Whitney. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Hymn Book) - No-speed type, nevertheless he always comes to run and this is his home track. He's (4-2-2-0) locally, is training very fast for this and gelding would benefit greatly if the pace was fast and/or contested.
3rd pick: #9 (Flat Out) - He draws a very tough post today as this race starts mid-way on the clubhouse turn. However, he's two-for-two here and was an easy winner of this prestigious stakes on October 1st of 2011. He was only a head back of "Ron" at Saratoga in the Whitney and has been working very fast since.
4th pick: #5 (Fort Larned) - The "now" horse, he's won four of his last six, including the G1 Whitney last out at Saratoga. He had a perfect trip that day while both "Ron" and "Flat" did not and unlike that pair he's never raced on this often deep and tricky surface. However, his early speed in a rather pace-less race on paper makes him a threat again.