Top pick: #1 (REIGN OF KINGS) (2-1) - Speed/stalker is racing first off a Keith Lebarron claim (a 19% winning angle) and off a nine week freshening. New barn drops him well under the purchase price, so there is some concern. Veteran gelding has the rail, plenty of back class, and is the horse to bat if fit.
2nd pick: #4 (Surprise Strike) (4-1) - Monmouth shipper finished the season three with three straight sharp efforts and stalker has gone 7-2-0-2 here in the past. He was beaten a "neck" on Sept. 27 racing at this level and earned his best figure since late February. A strong win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Noah's Dream) (6-1) - Speedy veteran tired here racing for twice this tag on a muddy surface Oct. 4. That broke a string of eight straight solid efforts and this 7-year-old by "Pulpit" has won 10 of 23 local dirt starts.
4th pick: #3 (Buckeye Heart) (3-1) - He rallied to win here on a muddy track Oct. 4 and was well clear of "Noah's Dream" at the finish. He's won two of his last four and must be left in the mix.