Top pick: #5 (EXPRESSO RUN) - Filly by "Medaglia d'Oro" cost a cool half-milion and is training fast up at saratoga for the Zito. Owned by the trainer's principal patron Bob LaPenta Jr., she races with blinkers on and faces a weak field for this level. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Kinkora) - Grey daughter of "Macho Uno" has been competitive in all but one of her half-dozen starts and races today off a 3 1/2 month break and for a new trainer (Chad Brown 26% with new arrivals). Training very fast and she does have early speed. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #3 (Sarasota Empress) - First-time starter by "Broken Vow" has been in steady training since Feb. and some of her works are on the "quick" side. In a very under-rated barn (Angel Penna Jr.) and she looks set for a big effort.