Top pick: #3 (IMAGE OF GRACE) (5-2) - Race is full of hard-hitting veteran mares and the sextet has an amazing total of 53 lifetime wins between them. This 6yo set a pressured pace and held to finish second here at this tag going 6.5-furlongs on May 29. It was her best since coming off a 13 1/2 month layoff on Feb. 1st, and she can take this with a slight move forward.
2nd pick: #1 (A Touch of Humor) (7-2) - Mare ran evenly here facing tougher on June 5 in her first off a two month freshening. It was her first ever on this surface, an encouraging effort, and trainer Randy Russell (who's having an outstanding meet) brings her back quickly and drops her down.
3rd pick: #5 (New Englander) (4-1) - Old-timer has visited the winner's circle 14 times during her long career, and her local slate stands at 33-10-8-4. She showed nothing here facing tougher on May 29 in her first off a Norm Pointer claim and a subsequent eight week freshening. 9yo is brought back quickly, takes a big drop, and is in the mix.
4th pick: #6 (Chit Chat Cat) (8-1) - Speedy 8yo ships in from Finger Lakes where she's won two in a row on the dirt. Her local record is on the weak side (18-1-6-3), but her early speed must be respected.