Top pick: #8 (NOTACATBUTALLAMA) (7-2) - Multiple stakes winner against both "open" and state-bred foes, colt raced evenly after an early "bump" in his seasonal debut here April 24. It was his first race since Nov. 17th, and this hard-hitting son of "Harlan's Holiday" has been working fast since. He gets a slight edge in a "deep" and talented field that's earned almost $3.5M combined.
2nd pick: #4 (Kharafa) (5-2) - Gelding really stepped his game up last year, and this 5yo loves the local course (9-4-3-0). His ability to race well from both on and off the pace is a plus, and he finished a solid second to the talented "King Kressa" in this stakes in 2013. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #1 (Lubash) (2-1) - Old-timer is the field's leading earner ($736K) with almost all of that total coming in grass stakes. Strong finisher won his seasonal debut here on April 24, and that ran his local slate to 16-4-5-2. 7yo was only a 1/2 length back of "Kharafa" in this event last year and is a stretch threat in this spot.
4th pick: #3 (Hear the Footsteps) (6-1) - His entire career has been spent on the turf (25-5-4-11), and this professional is 15-4-2-7 locally. Consistent sort finished a solid third here going six-furlongs on May 16, is brought back quickly, and stretches out to a mile.