Top pick: #5 (DECLAN'S WARRIOR) (9-5) - Lightly-raced and talented, this colt became a stakes winner on April 6th at Aqu. when he put in a furious late rally to win the "Bay Shore" stakes (G3) at this 7-furlong distance. Trainer Nick Zito scratched him here out of the "Peter Pan" stakes (G2) on May 11th when that 1 1/8th mile stakes drew a strong field and was run on an "off" track. Home-bred is training fast on the Saratoga training track for this attempt and he broke his maiden on this surface when debuting last Oct.
2nd pick: #3 (Tenango) (4-1) - Since relocating here from California in late January and joining the barn of Dave Jacobson, this gelding has gone (4-1-3-0) and ran a career best last out on this surface when he won a mile contest by almost 13 lengths in very fast time. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #1 (Battier) (2-1) - As consistent (6-4-2-0) as they come and this speed/stalker races off a trainer change to Todd Pletcher (32% with new arrivals). Last out at Aqu. April 7th he won a small stakes going a mile and ran a career best "figure" that afternoon. Fits, but the top two are better win candidates and have already proven that they can handle this deep surface.