Top pick: #8 (Du Jour) (15-1) - Du Jour is a late bloomer, picking up more speed and more wins in 2023. Du Jour finished second in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile earlier in the year and comes off back-to-back victories at the Wickerr and the Del Mar Mile. Du Jour and jockey Flavien Prat sat back and waited for room on the far turn before making a late move. Late finishers are a key for this race and Prat will be atop again for trainer Bob Baffert.
2nd pick: #6 (Mawj) (4-1) - This three-year-old filly has peaked in 2023, winning four straight, all on turf. She has shown the ability to press in the middle-of-the-pack before trying to overtake the leader. She just won the Grade 1 QE II Challenge Cup holding off challenger Lindy, who made a furious late push.
3rd pick: #15 (More Than Looks) (15-1) - It's been a busy year, the eighth race in 2023 for this 3-year old colt. One mile races have been the ticket, finishing first, second, or third in its last six, all but one at one mile. In his last race in September, More Than Looks won the Jefferson Cup with an impressive closing kick to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a field of nine. Another plus will be jockey Joel Rosario holding the reigns.