Top pick: #3 (WICKED STRONG) (3-1) - I've always liked this son of "Hard Spun" and he really came to hand during the summer at Saratoga. He was a convincing winner of the "Jim Dandy" stakes (G2) and probably should have won the "Travers" stakes (G1) when he lost by a "nose" to stable-mate and todays' rival "V.E. Day". Working nicely. he has enough speed to stay close early and win this at the 1/4 pole.
2nd pick: #11 (Moreno) (7-2) - Very talented gelding comes to run every time and all of his success has come racing on conventional dirt 17-3-7-3 ($1.8M in earnings). In shape and he's a win candidate on the front end.
3rd pick: #4 (Zivo) (6-1) - New York bred rallied from far back to win the (G2) "Suburban" here at this distance on July 5th. He did well to finish fourth at the "Spa" in the "Woodward" stakes (G1) on Aug. 30 and has been working nicely here since. His local record is outstanding 6-4-0-2 and he's a stretch threat in this spot.
4th pick: #2 (The Last Gunfighter) (20-1) - Longshot had tough outside posts in both the "Whitney" and "Woodward" and raced evenly in both. He's breaking just off the rail, is working fast, and is capable of grabbing a share of this at a big price.
5th pick: #1 (Micromanage) (20-1) - Second stringer from the Pletcher barn has carved out a nice career and has a solid year going 7-2-1-2. Stalker has the rail and should be saving ground from his inside draw. Don't just dismiss at long odds.