Top pick: #2 (SHERIFFA) (8-5) - Speedy home bred by "Possee" takes a big drop in class after tiring after setting a fast past facing tougher at Saratoga Aug. 13. She likes it locally 5-1-0-4 and meets a very weak field this afternoon. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Mononoke) (6-1) - Since late-April filly has gone 6-0-1-4 at this level on the dirt and some of those races had much tougher fields than this. Stalkers lone win came here and she's a threat from close range.
3rd pick: #8 (Golden Cheetah) (5-2) - Another taking a big drop, mare is also moving from turf to dirt and shortening up in distance. Strong finisher has never won on the dirt, but has been competitive several times against tougher.
4th pick: #4 (Prove It All Night) (8-1) - Lightly-raced filly went gate-to-wire over a weak field to get her maiden win on Aug. 8 at Saratoga. She's conservatively spotted in her first facing winners, but does not have the type of speed to stay with "Sheriffa" in the first half-mile. Needs to rate in this spot.