Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #2 (WARRIOR HALL) (2-1) - Daughter of 'War Front' cost owner Robert Evans exactly $1,000,000 a year ago and showed immediate improvement when moved to the grass Aug 28 at Saratoga. Racing at this level and distance, she stalked the pace, made a strong bid turning for home, then was out-finished by a length while 3.5-lengths clear of the 3rd place filly. She's worked since, has the rail, and John Velazquez is back on the re-ride.
2nd pick: #3 (Wake Island) (5-2) - Another filly by 'War Front', she's one of two maidens entered by trainer Chad Brown and the pair race uncoupled. Home bred was bet down to favoritism when debuting at this level and distance Aug 21 at Saratoga. She had a poor outside post (10th of 10) and raced wide the entire race before rallying to finish 3rd, beaten 2-lengths. Barn has breezed her three times since and Brown wins at a 26% rate 2nd time out.
3rd pick: #8 (Thunderon the Nile) (4-1) - Daughter of 'Pioneerof the Nile' 'hopped' at the break when debuting in the Saratoga contest as 'Wake Island'. She did well to finish a fast-closing 5th and was only a 1/2 length behindthat rival. Trainer Brad Cox has worked her three times since then and he's another that does great work 2nd time out (27%).