Top pick: #7 (YANKEE DIME) (5-1) - The Zito barn has won three races at this meet and he sends out this improving gelding by "Dixie Union." Three-year-old set a pressured pace and held to finish third at Belmont on June 18th when racing for a $75K tag. Fine effort came off a 7 1/2 month layoff and he had a huge half-mile bullet drill here on July 7. $100k yearling purchase takes a big drop in class and can upset the presumed favorite (#5 "Moonluck").
2nd pick: #5 (Moonluck) (4-5) - The probable heavy favorite, he finished second in both starts last fall at Belmont facing special weight competition. Stalker hasn't run since Oct. 13, and he takes a bit of a suspicious drop in his return to action. However, if in shape, the others entered are running for second money.
3rd pick: #1 (Sounds of Saratoga) (20-1) - Longshot is another taking a drop and he's also going turf-to-dirt for this attempt. Gelding has lost ground in the stretch of all six starts, but at this reduced level he may grab a share from his inside post.
4th pick: #8 (Hey Kid) (10-1) - Grey gelding was much improved in his second start when he dropped to this level and ran with blinkers on. He chased and held to finish second, but this field is much tougher than he faced that day. Needs to step up a bit more.