Top pick: #4 (LEA THE PUNISHER) - Mare finished an even fourth in the Saratoga slop on July 27th racing for $20K and was claimed that afternoon by Dave Jacobson. He started her in a grass sprint at the purchase price on Sept. 3 and she rallied to finish a close-up third despite racing a bit erratically. Barn drops her down to race for $15,000 and switches her to the main track. Gets the call in a competitive opener.
2nd pick: #5 (Roman Renegade) - She rallied to just miss at this price going 7 furlongs at the "Spa" on August 13th. Only her second start since May 9th, and trainer Bruce levine will cut her back a furlong for this attempt.
3rd pick: #6 (No Three Words) - She's one of four entered who has won on this surface in the past and she comes into this lightly raced this year and on an upward spiral on her form. Last out at Saratoga she finished 4 1/2 lengths back of "Renegade" and all sorts of traffic issues that afternoon. Working fine at Monmouth for this and Dominguez will get aboard for the first time.