Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #2 (COUNTRY SQUIRE) (8-5) - Lightly-raced and speedy, $160K gelding by 'Stay Thirsty' ships up from Gulfstream for trainer Toff Pletcher. The 3yo finished a pace-chasing third there going 7 furlongs for a $40K price tag Sept. 14. It was his first start in 6.5 months and his first ever in a claimer. Barn drops him in half for this attempt while stretching him out in distance and he gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #5 (Support Our Cause) (9-5) - Home bred son of 'Blame' is another who has been lightly-raced. Colt has been racing evenly facing tougher and trainer Chad Brown will drop him into a claimer for the first time. That's a strong 32% winning angle from the barn and he wins at a 28% rate when teamed up with Irad Ortiz Jr. The main danger.
3rd pick: #1 (Curlin's New Moon) (4-1) - This is start #12 but he has been competitive in two of three when racing at this $20K price tag. One run type is racing second back following a two-month break, has the rail, and seems to prefer Belmont over Aqueduct and Saratoga.