Top pick: #3 (USBEK THUNDER) (2-1) - Veteran Brazilian bred is racing first off a Bob Hess Jr. claim. He's worked him twice since and brings him back 6 weeks later at the purchase price. Five-year-old goes dirt to "poly," meets weak field, and gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #4 (Deep Play) (5-2) - He's racing third back off a 2 1/2 month break and is taking a sizable drop in class while moving from turf to "poly." He's never raced this low and is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Broadway Nika) (6-1) - Stretch out sprinter enters off a wide and even effort here going 6-furlongs just nine days ago. He has back figures that can win this if repeatable and has won four times on synthetic surfaces.
4th pick: #6 (Cloud Hopper) (5-1) - He's racing third back off a four month break and moving from conventional dirt to "poly." Gelding has back class and has an excellent record 7-3-3-0 on synthetic surfaces.