Top pick: #2 (FOREST ELF) (3-1) - Arlington shipper has a great year going (8-5-2-0), and in his career is 6-3-1-1 on synthetic surfaces. One run type is in a high percentage outfit (Mike Stidham), and this 5yo by "Kitten's Joy" should get a fast and/or contested pace to rally into.
2nd pick: #5 (Diamond of Blue) (5-2) - He's racing second back from almost an 11-month layoff, and he was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths here at this tag & trip in his return effort. Very fast from the gate and an obvious win candidate from the Hollendorfer/Bejarano team (34% over the past 20 1/2 months).
3rd pick: #8 (Sacred Ovation) (6-1) - Consistent sort (14-3-5-3) has back class and comes into this off an easy win on the Los Alamitos dirt facing weaker July 12. Capable on synthetics (4-1-2-0) and a threat at a square price.
4th pick: #4 (Xuang Feng) (6-1) - Speed/stalker goes first off a Kitchingman claim, and he has him nicely spotted in this starter-allowance. Capable with his best, but most all of his success has come on real dirt.