Top pick: #7 (HOPE IS BEST) (5-2) - Today's Best Bet, he's moving up in class off a pair of back-to-back second-place finishes here facing weaker. Beaten a 'neck' here June 11 for a $16K tag, that effort earned him the highest career figure earned of any he faces this afternoon. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Sky City) (9-2) - Dangerous rival, he's cutting back in distance after finishing fourth here at this distance on the Thistledown dirt June 10. He's consistently shown early speed and should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #6 (Tintern Abbey) (7-2) - Veteran maiden finished third of four here at this level and distance June 16. It was his first start in nine months and ran his local record to 24-0-3-4. Another small slice is his ceiling.
4th pick: #2 (Man About Town) (5-1) - Lightly-raced, he has the rail and some early speed. Colt moves way up in class after rallying to check in a non-threatening third here June 18 for a $22.5K tag. Needs to improve quite a bit.