Top pick: #3 (PAYOUT) - Improving son of "Johannesberg", races third off a nine month layoff, goes turf to dirt, and drops into a claimer for the first time. Working fast for this attempt, he draws a nice inside post, and has excellent early speed. Much the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #5 (Ambassador Bridge) - Gelding has been on the sidelines for the past three months after stringing five starts together from early April until late July. When last raced this sophomore was finishing second at this price and distance at Saratoga. Obvious threat if ready and he should be closing strongly.
3rd pick: #6 (D'argento) - Tries hard every time and is (6-0-3-3), since dropping into the claiming ranks. Stalker is an obvious fit at the tag and distance and has a sharp work leading into this on Oct. 24. Win candidate.
4th pick: #1 (Mount Karakorum) - Finished second here on Oct. 15 in one of the best efforts of his 22 race career. Likes this surface, but after this many starts he's not improving that much anymore and can probably be limited to a minor award.