Top pick: #6 (BLAME DIXIE) (3-1) - Filly has been on the sidelines since a sharp third-place finish when debuting Aug 10 at Saratoga. Working fast for her return, trainer Todd Pletcher wins at a 22% rate second time out and at a 32% clip off of long layoffs.
2nd pick: #7 (Strong Incentive) (4-1) - One of seven making their debuts, $200K purchase was initially prepared at Palm Meadows in Florida before shipping north. Since arriving at Belmont, her works have been fast and she looks all set to be competitive for a 21% first out trainer (Chad Brown).
3rd pick: #2 (Elraazy) (5-1) - $330,000 daughter of 'Malibu Moon' makes her debut off a bullet half-mile breeze here May 29th. She draws the rail in a large field and an alert break is imperative.
4th pick: #1 (Special Treat) (10-1) - Phipp's home bred had a sharp half-mile breeze here May 23rd. Barn ('Shug' McGaughey) is not known for first-out success, but there are exceptions to every rule.
5th pick: #9 (Calling Me Home) (12-1) - Filly enters off a career best when she rallied to finish second here at this level going 6-furlongs May 6th. That was a small field (6) and this group is larger and much stronger. Believe a small slice is her ceiling.