Top pick: #2 (RODERICK) - Excellent race last out in his first ever on the turf and first beyond six furlongs. Gelding ran hard from start to finish and was beaten by a strong stretch runner who had much more experience. Draws the rail and has a very fast work since. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #5 (Good to be Me) - He finished second sprinting on the Belmont turf last out his first race in a half year and by far the best of his five race career. He's been training here for the past three months and trainer Bruce Brown will stretch him out in distance this afternoon. Strong factor.
3rd pick: #9 (Beth's Kitten) - Kentucky shipper raced evenly facing open $45K maidens and will race against fellow state-breds today in his second start. Barn (Mike Maker) always points his maidens towards their second start and he adds blinkers while giving a "leg up" to his main rider (Julien Leparoux). Dangerous runner.
4th pick: #7 (City Train) - Rare Prairie Meadows shipper has been competitive there on the dirt sprinting facing "open" maidens and will try the turf today for the first time. He winds up in a top barn (Gary Contessa) and has a "bullet" drill since relocating. Can factor in the exotics.
5th pick: #6 (Ommadon's Answer) - Has some ability but is in a barn (Leo O'Brien) that's had a tough go of it the past several years and his son in law (John Velazquez) jumps off this gelding to ride the top pick. Gelding may sneak into the tri at a decent price.