Top pick: #9 (DISCREET MARQ) (6-5) - A multiple Graded stakes winner facing 'open' company, she moves back in with fellow state breds for this attempt. Speed/stalker finished second in this stakes last year to 'Day at the Spa,' but faces no such rival this afternoon. Grey mare has banked $1.2M and can add to that total today.
2nd pick: #10 (Invading Humor) (6-1) - Talented mare draws a tough outside post. A multiple stakes winner on the grass, she has enough early speed to not let this post hurt her chances. Can factor, but the last time she raced against "Discreet Marq' she was beaten by almost 10-lengths.
3rd pick: #5 (Old Harbor) (10-1) - She tries hard every time and has a fine record when in against fellow state breds. Speed/stalker stretches out off a third place finish here in a sprint stakes facing 'open' company Aug. 2. Can grab a share at a square price.
4th pick: #2 (The Tea Cups) (12-1) - Mare has been much improved since switching to the barn of Jeremiah Englehart a year ago. Five-year-old has a fine record on the grass 16-4-3-3 and most of those came facing 'open' company.
5th pick: #7 (Swear By It) (12-1) - Very lightly-raced filly has no early speed, but has won two of her first three and is the barn of Chad Brown. Strong finisher makes her stakes debut and still has room for upside.