Top pick: #11 (BANANA THIEF) (3-1) - He's making his third start of the meet, and he's been competitive in his first pair. Son of "Kitten's Joy" finished a good second here on a "sloppy" surface when debuting July 28, then raced evenly last out on the grass. The top selection.
2nd pick: #4 (Elusive New Yorker) (4-1) - He cost $200K here a year ago at Auction and showed early speed when debuting in a $122K stakes at Belmont Park July 13. Working well since, and his trainer (Dave Cannizzo) won his fifth race yesterday from his small barn.
3rd pick: #8 (Buddy the Elf) (7-2) - One of eight making their first starts, he's been in training here since late June, and his last three breezes have all been above average. Repole home bred is from a barn (Bruce Levine) that's had a very good meet (40-10-5-5).
4th pick: #5 (Mark My Style) (8-1) - Another debuting colt, he cost $75K this past year as a 2yo in training at Ocala. Prepared at Belmont by trainer Gary Contessa, and this runner's last two works have been very sharp.
5th pick: #7 (Got Winged) (10-1) - Chicago based trainer Mike Dini sends this colt in from Arlington Park where he's been in uninterrupted training on the "poly" surface there since early June. Don't just dismiss.