Top pick: #4 (LA MINSTRAL) - California invader is lightly raced and comes here to the leading trainer's barn (Scott Lake). Gelded son of "Thunder Gulch" has a good closing kick and has finshed second and third in his only previous starts on conventional dirt. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Valridge) - Colt just missed last out at this price travelling nine furlongs. Effort was only his second back off a five-month rest and stamps him as a major player in this field.
3rd pick: #7 (Lexington Rae) - Nicely-bred colt ("Minardi") has finished "in-the-money" in three of his six distance races. His experience should land him a part of this at the end.