Top pick: #1a (HUGE ASSET) (3-1) - Speed/stalker is in career best shape at this point after coming off an 11-month layoff in late June. Following a pair of conditioning racers on the grass, gelding has gone 5-2-3-0 on the dirt since then. Part of an entry with #1 "Now We're Talkin" and he's the choice if he goes.
2nd pick: #7 (Street Invader) (6-1) - Unreliable type rarely puts two good efforts in a row and last out tired badly after rushing up following a poor break. He was an easy winner in his previous start at Penn National and earned a career best figure that evening. Barn (Cathal Lynch) has an unbelievable year here 168-52-23-26 and this gelding has won on "off" going in the past.
3rd pick: #2 (Adduce) (8-1) - Veteran Jersey-bred doesn't win very often (3 for 50) but has picked up 22 minor awards in his long career. One-run type enters in shape, fits here, has the rail, and has gone 3-1-0-2 on wet tracks in the past.
4th pick: #6 (Bernardo) (9-2) - New York shipper raced evenly at Aqueduct on Nov. 29 in his first since July 10th. Barn drops him down and stretches him out in distance. This is his favorite distance 9-2-1-3 and he must be left in the mix.