Top pick: #6 (J B'S UNC) (5-2) - Gelding was claimed in late May at Churchill by Jorge Navarro for $5,000 and was sent in for a two month freshening by the high-percentage outfit. He returned with an easy win and career best "figure" at Monmouth July 26th and the barn brings him back quickly for this.
2nd pick: #7 (Thunder Ball) (3-1) - He has a fine overall record (31-6-3-7), and most all of those starts came facing much tougher. Veteran runs second back from a 3 1/2 month layoff, drops down, and I almost made him the top pick.
3rd pick: #4 (I'm Sure) (9-2) - Another veteran, speed/stalker has a solid local record (33-5-7-4), and enters this off a second-place finish at this level July 16th. Gelding by "Broken Vow" must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #5 (Handsome Harbor) (5-1) - Grey gelding ran a career best when winning here in the mud on July 2nd when racing for a $12.5K tag. Claimed that day by Alex Delp, he's freshened him up for the past five weeks and speedy 4-year-old is a major player if he holds his form off the barn change.