Top pick: #11 (GAME ON DUDE) (5-2) - The probable favorite, $5M earner faces a much tougher assignment today than he's faced lately. Speed/stalker comes in with five wins in a row, and last year he was outfinished by a 1/2 length by today's rival "Dullahan." Working fast, he has a new rider (Marty Garcia) as Joel Rosario was injured at Saratoga on Friday. The top pick, but he'll need to be at his best.
2nd pick: #10 (Delegation) (8-1) - Woodbine shipper has an outstanding record (6-5-1-0) on synthetic surfaces, and last out ran a career best when he won the (G3) "Dominion Day" stakes at Woodbine on July 1. Gelding by "Speightstown" was working fast before shipping from Toronto, and is a serious looking challenger.
3rd pick: #9 (Dullahan) (7-2) - He was the winner of this rich event last year when he rallied strongly to defeat "Dude" by a 1/2 length. Winless in five starts since then, he comes off a nice effort at Arlington on July 13, and has been working very fast at Churchill heading into this. The faster the pace, the better his chances.
4th pick: #7 (Kettle Corn) (6-1) - Hard-hitting veteran has an excellent record on "poly" surfaces (16-5-5-5), and he's two for five locally. Working fast and two back, he gave "Dude" a "run for his money" at Hollywood in the (G1) "Gold Cup."
5th pick: #4 (Farraaj) (12-1) - Darley home-bred makes his first start back in the states after spending the past year in Europe. Gelding is two for two on synthetics, including a Group 3 win in England this past March.