Top pick: #5 (HURRICANE TURN) (2-1) - Lightly raced son of "Northern Afleet" began his career in top barn of Chad Brown and just missed when finishing a 1/2 length behind future "Travers" stakes (G1) winner "V.E.Day" this past May. Probably injured around that time, he needed $25K claimers to get his maiden win here going 7-furlongs on Sept. 13th. Claimed that day by the high percentage barn of Keith Nations, 3yo missed by a "neck" here two months later in his first for the new stable. Nations drops him down to the purchase price and stretches him out to a mile, a distance he's finished second at in both attempts. Gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #6 (Hold the Wire) (5-2) - Strong contender, he sold for $260K as a yearling back in 2011 and like most by "Tiznow," he's needed some time to get his act together. 4yo gelding has gone 6-1-3-2 on conventional dirt and was an impressive maiden winner here going 7-furlongs for a $25K tag just 10-days ago. Also in the barn of Keith Nations, and the more than likely winner if "Hurricane Turn" scratches.
3rd pick: #4 (It's Time to Reign) (7-2) - He finished a distant third last week facing tougher, but had finished second in three straight prior to that here at and around this level. The "figures" earned in two of those fit nicely with this group, and unlike the top two choices he's already won at this distance.