Top pick: #6 (BLUEGRASS FLASH) (5-2) - Grey colt was bet down to 2-1 favoritism when debuting here at this level and distance Aug. 8 and rallied to finish a fast-closing second after a poor start. He's worked twice since and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #8 (John Bailey) (6-1) - The field's most experienced runner set a pressure pace and tired during the stretch run to finish 5 lengths back of "Flash." He's worked twice at Fair Hill since then and it's nice to see "Johnny V" back on the re-ride.
3rd pick: #3 (Tapidor) (7-2) - $450K son of "Tapit" switches to the grass and stretches out in distance after he raced evenly here in a dirt sprint on Aug. 2. He was "bumped" hard at the break and had a very wide trip that day in a useful effort. Dangerous today.
4th pick: #4 (The Mooch) (15-1) - Away slowly in the same race as both "Flash" and "Bailey," he raced evenly while extremely wide. Don't just dismiss.