Top pick: #1 (COCONUT CREAM PIE) (5-1) - Price play looked sharp when breaking her maiden going 6.5-furlongs on the Santa Anita dirt on June 13th. Win came on a class drop off a four month layoff and she's been working nicely since. Filly has run well on the grass in the past and finished second here a year ago on this course when facing Cal. bred special weights. Has the rail and I like her chances.
2nd pick: #7 (Lakota Road) (5-2) - The probable favorite, daughter of "War Chant" has gone 4-1-1-1 racing at this level on the Santa Anita grass and broke her maiden when facing winners at this level May 22nd. In shape, working fine, and the O'Neill barn stretches her back out in distance. Obvious win candidate and I almost made her the top pick. Only knock is the expected short price.
3rd pick: #6 (Hanserella) (3-1) - Veteran mare has only one win in 34 starts has finished second in four of her last five attempts. Speed/stalker is a steady performer and was less than a length off of "Lakota" when they met on May 22nd at Santa Anita. Must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #5 (Fable) (15-1) - Very lightly-raced daughter of grass champ "English Channel" was a bit rank when racing evenly at Santa Anita on June 15th. She's still a maiden, but can grab a share of this at a big price in her second back from almost a four month freshening.
5th pick: #4 (Warren's Tricia R.) (8-1) - Stalker stretches out in distance and will be racing on the grass for the first time. Warren home bred is brought back in 15 days for this attempt and can be a factor at square odds.