Top pick: #5 (Circling the Drain) (8-1) - This gelding is under-the-radar after a poor showing the last time out at the 2023 Federico Tesio. But in three of four races at over one-mile, Circling the Drain has finished first twice and third once. Circling the Drain got bumped early in an allowance, falling behind before making a five-wide move to get into contention and ended up second. It's also finished in the top three in five of its six races. The horse has also done well on both turf and dirt.
2nd pick: #1 (Funtastic Again) (3-1) - Funtastic Again had a pair of first-place finishes at 1-mile before entering the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby Stakes in March. The result was a third-place finish, although the winner was powerful Two Phil's.
3rd pick: #7 (Kingfish Stevens) (8-1) - A 94-speed figure is impressive but wasn't quite enough the last time out as Kingfish Stevens finished second to Sell Something at Aqueduct. That was on turf at 1 1/6-miles. Still, this 3-year old has finished first, second, and third in its last three races and is best suited for distances 1-mile or less like this one.