Top pick: #8 (PASS THE PICO) (7-2) - Lightly-raced colt was a bit rank last out at Saratoga when facing tougher in a grass sprint in his first since a sharp maiden win on the Churchill dirt two months earlier. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given him four weeks to recover and will switch him back to the dirt and drop him to a new low.
2nd pick: #7 (Start Jumping) (5-1) - Very lightly-raced gelding by "Jump Start" was a very easy maiden winner in the Saratoga slop racing at this distance for a $20K tag on Aug. 9. Race was his first off a 5 1/2 month layoff and 3-year-old was claimed that day by Dave Jacobson. New barn wins at a 27% clip first off the claim and he has him nicely spotted.
3rd pick: #5 (Cool Under Fire) (3-1) - Monmouth shipper is the only two-time winner entered and will be racing first off a claim by the Maryland-based Tim Tullock Jr. He cuts him back in distance, and he'll need to come off the pace in this spot.
4th pick: #4 (El Cuandro) (5-1) - Speed/stalker comes off a solid pace-setting second-place finish at Saratoga when facing a bit weaker on Aug. 10. Fits, has a fast recent work, and must be left in the mix.