Top pick: #8 (BAKKEN) (5-2) - Very lightly-raced colt has gone 3-2-1-0 on the NYRA circuit with his only sub-par effort coming when he was shipped to Santa Anita in late Dec. for the G1 "Malibu" stakes. He was competitive that day but was in with a strong group for a sparingly raced runner. Freshened up for almost 4 1/2 months following that Cal. trip he lost by just under a length in his return start at Belmont. Working fast for this and he's gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #5 (Happy My Way) (7-2) - Since mid-December he's become a new horse and has gone 5-4-1-0 since then and has won two stakes in easy fashion in his last pair. He's the speed of the speed, is racing off a 2 1/2 month break, and will be tough if he returns in the same form.
3rd pick: #2 (Falling Sky) (6-1) - Unreliable sort is capable with his "A" game and is working fast locally for his first start at Saratoga. His trainer (George Weaver) is off to a fast start at this meet and this colt by "Lion Heart" can factor at a square price with his best.
4th pick: #1 (Palace) (5-1) - Veteran defeated "Bakken" two back at Belmont, then rallied to finish second there last out in a G3 stakes going 7-furlongs. Working fast, he has the rail, and this 5-year-old loves this distance (10-5-4-1).