Top pick: #1 (LOCHTE) (7-2) - Son of "Medaglia d'Oro" is part of a Darley Stable owned entry, and will be trying the grass for the first time. He's lightly raced, still improving, and this $475K yearling purchase still has a lot of potential.
2nd pick: #7 (Defiant) (2-1) - The probable favorite, he's finished second in two straight at Belmont at this level, including one at this mile trip on June 12th. Home-bred son of "Tiznow" had some traffic issues last out, and may have been best. Strong win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Easement) (10-1) - Very wide in his first pair at Belmont racing on the dirt, legendary trainer H.Allen Jerkens adds lasix and switches him to the grass. Colt by "War Chant" is bred to like the surface, and will be a big price.
4th pick: #3 (Strike It Big) (6-1) - Freshened up since June 15th, colt finished third of 11, beaten just under three lengths going a mile on the Churchill dirt that day. $200K yearling purchase is bred to like the turf ("Arch"), and has worked three times locally in the past 25 days.