Top pick: #7 (UNCAPTURED) (4-1) - He's one of two entered by trainer Mark Casse and the pair race uncoupled. Colt has a fine record on synthetic surfaces (6-4-1-0) and rallied to finish second at Turfway Park on March 23rd in the (G3) "Spiral" Stakes. Excellent effort came off a four month layoff and should set him up perfectly for this wide open contest.
2nd pick: #4 (Java's War) (9-2) - Very strong finisher rallied from far back to finish second to the undefeated "Verrazano" in the "Tampa Bay Derby"(G2) on March 2nd. Race was his first since late Nov. and he ran third here on this surfacce in early Oct. in the (G1) "Breeders' Futurity." Win candidate.
3rd pick: #8 (Charming Kitten) (8-1) - Home-bred by "Kitten's Joy" is one of two from the Pletcher barn and the pair race uncoupled. Consitent sort was only 3 back of "Java" last fall on this surface and he had a less than perfect trip that day. Stalker fits and is in the mix at a square price.
4th pick: #11 (Balance the Books) (6-1) - Lightly-raced colt showed nothing last out at Turfway in the "Spiral," but it was his first start in 4 1/2 months and he's since come back with a fine local work.
5th pick: #10 (Footbridge) (20-1) - Santa Anita invader broke his maiden there on March 17th and will be facing winners and running on a "poly" surface, both for the first time. Well-bred and he'll be a gigantic price.