Top pick: #9 (HAVANA) (7-2) - Highly thought of early in his career, grey colt is racing second back from a pair of layoffs. He won the Champagne Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old and finished second that same year in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He's only raced three times since early Nov of 2013 and went evenly at Belmont at this level and distance July 9. He stumbled at the start that day in a race he most likely needed anyway. Can take this with an alert break.
2nd pick: #4 (Ocean Knight) (2-1) - He won his first pair before racing poorly in the $500K Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 7. On the sidelines since, he's working very fast and has sharp early speed. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #7 (Erik the Red) (10-1) - Veteran exits the same July 9 race as 'Havana.' He ran close up throughout and checked in third of seven, beaten almost 2-lengths. He always tries hard and enters in career best form.
4th pick: #1 (Joking) (12-1) - Strong finisher enters in top form and he has a fine record at this distance 4-2-1-1. Old timer has a tricky inside post and has to try and avoid falling too far back in the first 1/4 mile. Can factor if the pace is fast/and or contested.
5th pick: #6 (Crafty Dreamer) (15-1) - New York bred has had a solid career and is another who has a solid late kick. Working fast for his second off a 4 1/2 month layoff and can grab a share at a big price.