Top pick: #5 (LOVE TO RUN) - Son of "Pulpit" has been bet in all three outings and has raced well in each. Sold for $190,000 earlier this year at Ocala in Florida, he's had problems in two of his three starts and last out finished 2nd here on a muddy surface going 7 furlongs. Trainer John Kimmel adds blinkers and stretches him out to a mile. Colt has off track experience and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Restitution) - He's one of two entered here by trainer Todd PLetcher and the pair will race uncoupled. $300,000 son of "Smart Strike" was "bumped" at the start in his debut and raced evenly before checkin-in 5th, 4 1/2 lengths back of Love to Run. Working very fast since and Pletcher wins at a 28% rate 2nd time out and a 21% clip when stretching runners out.
3rd pick: #4 (El Padrino) - The 2nd of the Pletcher pair was bet down to favoritism in his debut at Saratoga and rallied strongly to just fail to get up. On the sidelines for the past 70 days, he's working very fast for this and is a win candidate in this small field.