Top pick: #3 (Carl Spackler) (2-1) - This Chad Brown horse has won three in a row. After an eighth-month layoff because of abdominal surgery, Carl Spackler won the one-mile Opening Verse Stakes by a head over pacesetting Talk of the Nation. In three all-time races at one mile, Carl Spackler has won 'em all.
2nd pick: #7 (Talk of the Nation) (7-2) - Talk of the Nation has finished second in four of the last five races. This 4-year-old colt finished second in each of the last two races, to Carl Spackler, as well as to Runaway Storm at the one-mile Bryan Station Stakes in a three-way photo finish.
3rd pick: #1 (Mysterious Night) (10-1) - This horse from Ireland has been impressive, including a Grade 1 Summer Stakes victory by 5 3/4 lengths. Mysterious Night was the favorite and was caught at six furlongs by Ninetyfour Expos before turning on the afterburners in midstretch to leave no doubt.