Top pick: #5 (AIR ALASKA) (8-5) - Busy sort moves up a bit in class after an easy gate-to-wire win here when facing slightly weaker at this distance July 8th. It was her best since coming off almost a 10 week break in late April and she proved last fall that she's capable of stringing good starts together.
2nd pick: #6 (Gift Wrap) (5-2) - Grey mare is only 3-for-37 on the win end, but has finished second or third in 18 of those starts. One-run type is at a level she's competitive at, and 5-year-old comes off a troubled trip in her latest. Owner/trainer Patty Farro is having a career year and has already won 90 times in 2014. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #3 (Issheit) (5-1) - She's going turf-to-dirt and dropping in class for this assignment. Veteran mare has early speed and has so far proven the rare claim that trainer Mike Pino hasn't improved. She could be a bit dangerous if "Alaska" allows her to get an uncontested lead into the first turn.