Top pick: #8 (TOUCH THE MOON) (7-2) - Daughter of 'Malibu Moon' cost $450,000 and is one of four in this contest making their debuts. Three-year-old has been in steady training since early March at Palm Beach Downs and had a useful 5-furlong gate breeze here May 6th. In the Pletcher barn (24% first out), she draws a nice outside post at this distance and has John Velazquez aboard.
2nd pick: #1 (Gaspirilla Inn) (2-1) - The probable favorite, she ships in from Keeneland where she rallied to finish second at this level going 6-furlongs April 10th. Phipps runner was coming off a long layoff (11 1/2 months) and has worked twice since. Four-year-old home bred by 'Street Cry' is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #3 (I'll Take Charge) (3-1) - Filly by 'Indian Charlie' is one of the most expensive yearlings ever sold. She cost $2,200,000 in Sept. of 2013. She was in steady training at Bill Mott's winter base of Payson park in Florida before shipping north. Barn is always better second time out, but there are exceptions to every rule.
4th pick: #5 (Reign) (8-1) - The field's most experienced maiden enters off an even effort at Aqueduct April 19. She did not break cleanly that day in her first since early June of 2014. May grab a minor award at a square price.