Top pick: #3 (SAYIF) - Speedy Irish-bred set a fast and pressured pace at this level going 6.5 furlongs "Down the Hill" before weakening in the final furlong. Effort was solid and was his first off a five-month layoff. Trainer Pat Biancone will stretch him out to a mile and 6-year-old has a pair of very fast works since his last race.
2nd pick: #6 (Pathfork) - The class of the field, he won a pair of very important 2-year-old races in Ireland back in 2010, but has only raced twice since Sept. 11 of that year. Son of "Distorted Humor" raced a bit "rank" here in the Arcadia S.(G2) on Feb. 4 in his first appearance since last April in England. Trainer John Sadler has worked him twice since and 4-year-old makes back to back starts for the first time since his 2-year-old season when he won a pair of rich (Group 1 and 2) stakes at the Curragh.
3rd pick: #2 (Leroy's Dynameux) - Strong finisher rallied to finish third last out in the same contest as "Sayif" and beat him by 1 1/2 lengths that afternoon. The pace was fast/contested that day and helped his style out. Can factor again in this spot.