Top pick: #5 (TRULEE SCRAPPIN) - He "stumbled" badly in his New York debut yet still finished a close-up third to Dawly who was an impressive winner here the other day. Colt spent the first nine starts of his career in Florida and is now in the barn of Mike Maker. Son of "Halo's Image" has a pair of sharo local works and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Grand Strategy) - He finished second here on "Opening Day" (July 22) and did so by chasing a wire-to-wire winner and gamely staying on for the place spot. Runs third back off a 10 1/2 month layoff, likes the surface, and is a win threat.
3rd pick: #6 (Won Fast Bullet) - Grey colt won his debut at Gulfatream in late Jan. racing for $35,000 and was claimed that afternoon by Rick Dutrow. He raced evenly after a slow start April 15 in a race won by Sean Avery who won the G1 "Vanderbilt" here last Sunday. Working fast at Aqueduct for this and Dutrow is deadly off of long breaks (34%). Win candidate.