Top pick: #6 (Clairere) (6-5) - In eight races over the last year-and-a-half, this 5-year old mare has four first place finishes and two in second place. That includes winning two Grade 1 Stakes and two in second place. All of those were at 1 1/8 or 1 1/16-miles. Winning the Apple Blossom Handicap in April was impressive, with a late move to overtake 3-to-5 favorite Secret Oath by a neck. Jockey Joel Rosario was at the reigns and will be again.
2nd pick: #4 (Secret Oath) (2-1) - Since winning the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, Secret Oath has been a bridesmaid. She has one victory in eight races since, a Grade 2 Azeri Stakes. That's four second place finishes in four Grade 1 races.
3rd pick: #2 (Search Results) (4-1) - This Chad Brown mare likes Belmont Park, winning the 1-mile Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes and finishing third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps last year. And in three races at this 1 1/16-mile distance, Search Results has finished first once and third twice.