Top pick: #8 (STACELITA) - French import is one of great quality as her form in both Europe and North America attests. She's (6-3-3-0) when running against her own sex and has defeated top males on occasion. In her debut in the states she finished a close-up third facing males in the G1 United Nations Invitational at Monmouth park on July 2, then was an impressive winner in the prestigious Beverly D.(G1) at Arlington August 13 when facing her own sex. Working fast up at Saratoga since and this hard-hitting 5-year-old has beaten tougher fields than this. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #1 (Deluxe) - Lightly-raced Juddmonte farm home-bred spent the early part of her career in France and posted some fine "Time Form" numbers there. Daughter of "Storm Cat" almost won a $314K Group 1 at Longchamp in May of 2010, then finished a close-up fourth three weeks later at Chantilly in the $967K Frenck Oaks (Group 1). Away from action for 10 months, she closed with a rush to be beaten a head in a small stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 3 and that should serve as a nice "prep" for this G1. Looks like the main danger.
3rd pick: #3 (Emerald Beech) - Home-bred from the Augustin Stable has won four in a row including the G3 Glens Falls on closing day at Saratoga on Sept. 5. Race was the best in her career and this strong finisher by "Maria's Mon" just seems to be getting better at age 5. She's never beaten the likes of Stacelita, and would need a to really step it up a lot to have any chance at doing so.