Top pick: #4 (EMPIRE DREAMS) (3-1) - Colt was a solid performer as a 2yo, but has really blossomed since coming off a four month layoff in late March. Strong finisher comes off a career best when he won the $161K "New York Derby" at Finger Lakes July 12. That was his first ever around two-turns and surprising enough makes him the only one entered who has done so.
2nd pick: #2 (Little Daddy) (4-1) - Gulfstream shipper has gone 5-2-1-1 in Florida facing "open" company and has a pair of sharp local works for his first facing fellow New York breds. Barn (Kathy Ritvo) just missed with a shipper in yesterday's G1 "King's Bishop," and this colt is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Captain Serious) (5-2) - Very speedy sort is undefeated (three for three) facing state breds and enters this off a pair of solid efforts facing "Graded" open stakes opposition. He just missed at Belmont going 8.5-furlongs in the "Dwyer" stakes July 5 and is in the three horse win mix.
4th pick: #1 (Eye Luv Lulu) (10-1) - He finished 4 1/2 back of "Empire Dreams" last out and was a similar margin behind "Captain Serious" in his previous race. He has the rail and could grab a share while being overlooked in the wagering.