Top pick: #7 (CAPE BLANCO) - Irish-bred son of the world Class runner "Galileo" kept only the best of company racing in Ireland, England and France and comes across the Atlantic after having won 6 of 12 starst overseas and $2,600,000 in earnings. In the barn of one of the best trainers in the world (Aidan O'Brien) andjockey Jeremy Spencer makes the trip over to ride this talented 4-year-old. Runs with lasix and he should get a course with some moisture in it, which would suit him just fine. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #5 (Gio Ponti) - Wonderful veteran has done some of his best work on this surface (9-5-3-1) and was the winner of the 2010 edition of this stakes. Distance is fine, he's working fast since a close-up third-place finish on June 11th in the G1 Manhattan, and is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #1 (Mission Approved) - He pulled off a wire-to-wire upset her in the Manhattan (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard and is once again the clear speed. He just failed (a neck) in this race last year and must be considered again this afternoon.