Top pick: #8 (CARTOONIST) (3-1) - Colt is working fast for this after racing both wide and evenly in a stakes when beginning his career at Pleasanton July 6th. Capable barn (Greg James) drops him way down in class and has the world's winningest rider (Russell Baze) aboard.
2nd pick: #10 (Katz On Fire) (7-2) - Of those that have raced he earned the highest figure when he rallied to miss by a "neck" when racing here at this level Aug. 16. British Columbia bred has worked twice since and is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Stalk the Wildcat) (4-1) - Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has had a tremendous year with his 2-year-olds and he sends out this "Tommy Town" home bred by "Minister's Wild Cat." Colt has been in steady training here since early July and has ten published drills since that time. Hollendorfer has won at an incredible 46% rate (20 of 46) when debuting juveniles for a claiming price over the past 20 months.
4th pick: #3 (Fly Beyond) (6-1) - In a sharp barn (Bill Delia) and this debuting son of "Marino Marini" has a pair of sharp local breezes showing. Home bred should factor first out and has a strong trainer (Delia)/ jockey (Gonzalez)combo in his corner. The pair wins at a solid 26% rate (17 of 66)when teamed up over the past 20 months.
5th pick: #2 (Rock Hoover) (20-1) - Longshot took a bit of money when debuting here Aug. 18 and raced both wide 7 evenly. He finished eight lengths back of "Latz On Fire" that day and needs to step it up for anything more than a small slice.