Top pick: #8 (WELL RECEIVED) (5-1) - Filly was bet down to favoritism when debuting at Belmont at this level and distance on Sept. 13 and she tired after setting a pressured pace. Darley home-bred is working very fast for this and is in a barn (Kiaran McLaughlin) that is always better second-time out (24%). She draws a tough outside post but has a solid shot at beating the "boys" if she runs.
2nd pick: #1 (In Speight Ofitall) (9-5) - He was beaten a nose here at this level going two-turns on the grass on Nov. 15 and has now been competitive in all five starts. Barn moves him back to the dirt and he'll be a handful this afternoon.
3rd pick: #5 (Invocation) (3-1) - Son of "Pulpit" has been racing evenly for some time now but the fields have been tougher than this and this $250K 2-year-old purchase can be competitive against this crew.