Top pick: #4 (AMERICAN PRIDE) (3-1) - Very lightly-raced 3-year-old enters off a pair of impressive back-to-back wins late in the Santa Anita meet. In the Baffert barn, colt has the look of a possible stakes performer and this is a solid test to see what kind of ability he has.
2nd pick: #1 (My Slew) (7-2) - Veteran comes to run every time and has been victorious on "poly," dirt, and turf. Stalker is two for three locally, is in top shape, and draws the rail. Dangerous.
3rd pick: #5 (Holy Lute) (5-2) - Lightly-raced grey colt missed by a "nose" here at this level July 19th. That ran his local record to 3-2-1-0 and this former stakes winner must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #2 (Bull Dozer) (4-1) - Midwest invader has won 15 of 42 overall and is 3-1-1-0 on synthetic surfaces. The level and distance are fine and this stalker is a threat from off the pace in his west coast debut.