Top pick: #2 (INVOCATION) - Appears to be the type that will love this 9 furlong trip as most all of these have very little two-turn experience. He closed ground in a pair of starts at Saratoga, then was over-matched last out in the Champagne S.(G1). Working fast for this, and a sharp half-mile breeze at Belmont on Oct.22nd points us his way. The inside posts at this trip at Aqueduct generally have a big advantage.
2nd pick: #3 (Festive Spirit) - One of two enterd here by Todd Pletcher, this colt by "Malibu Moon" finished 4th of 8 in his debut Oct.15 racing on the Belmont turf and will switch to the dirt today. A bullet 5 furlong breeze on Nov. 3 suggests he's ready to roll.
3rd pick: #6 (Raconteur) - The 2nd of the Pletcher pair finished a distant 2nd at this trip at Saratoga Sep.2 and that valuable experience along with some sharp recent works makes him a threat.