Top pick: #10 (OCTOFY) (7-2) - Reddam home bred rated, made a strong bid, then weakened under pressure to finish fourth when debuting here going 5-furlongs July 3. On the sidelines since, filly is working fast on this strip and can go wire-to-wire against this field.
2nd pick: #7 (Nine Point Nine) (6-1) - Emerald Downs invader ran second there when debuting as the even-money favorite Aug 22. It was a useful effort and came facing 'open' company. Filly by 'Tribal Ruler' is brought back quickly and is in with fellow Calif. breds. It's noted that she began her career in the northwest in the barn of a racing legend there (Howard Belvoir).
3rd pick: #5 (Hijiki) (5-1) - One of four making their debuts, she's been working very fast here since early August. In a good barn (Mike Puype) and home bred has back-to-back bullets heading into this.
4th pick: #1 (Good Looking) (8-1) - She has experience on her side and enters off a pair of solid efforts at Del Mar. Latest saw her chase and hold down the place spot there Aug 21 facing $50K Calif. bred claimers. Has the rail, is improving, and must be left in the mix.
5th pick: #8 (Curlin Curlina) (20-1) - Filly by 'Curlin' is going turf to dirt and is making back-to-back starts for the first time. Long shot may get a piece of this at a very big price.