Top pick: #2b (SVEN DIESEL) - Another in a long line of California transplants from owner Roddy Valente and trainer Bruce Levine, and they've been very successful with most. This bargain-priced ($22,000) son of "Harlan's Holiday" was claimed out of a second-place finish at Del Mar on September 4 for $32,000. Working fine at Monmouth for his first start on real dirt. The horse to beat, he's coupled with "Buddy's Song".
2nd pick: #2 (Buddy's Song ) - Most of his better races are on the grass, but his several dirt efforts put him in this and it's of note that with Edgar Prado at Keeneland today, Dominguez is aboard.
3rd pick: #4 (Seattle Brew) - He finished third at Saratoga on a "good" track on August 1 in a "switched" contest his only race of seven on the main track. Contender with this crew.