Top pick: #6 (UNION LABEL) (9-2) - Colt is from the final crop of "Dixie Union," and ships in from Monmouth for his debut. He cost $200K, has a pair of back-to-back fast half-mile gate breezes, is in a good first out barn (John Servis), and Joe Bravo drives down I95 for the mount.
2nd pick: #9 (Duval) (5-2) - Son of "Kodiak Cowboy" broke sharply and held gamely to finish third, beaten under a length when debuting here on June 11. The Asmussen barn is always better second time out (23%), and trainer Steve has worked him twice at Belmont since that solid debut.
3rd pick: #4 (Abel A) (8-1) - He's a very rare North Carolina-bred son of "Chelsey Cat". His last pair of works are sharp, and trainer Cathal Lynch wins at a 24% rate with debuting juveniles.
4th pick: #5 (Mr. Paladin) (6-1) - By "Breeder's Cup Classic" winner "Invasor", Pa-bred had a fast half-mile gate breeze here on June 18. Capable barn (Phil Aristone), and this colt will be a big price.