Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #8 (DIGITAL AGE) (3-1) - This late developing 3yo was bred in Ireland but did not race there. From the barn of Chad Brown, colt did not run as a 2yo, but was a winner of his first three earlier this year. That included a sharp victory in a rich G2 stakes at Churchill Downs on the Derby under-card May 4. Given a two month freshening, colt finished a close up fourth here in the Belmont Derby (G1) July 6, then missed by a length in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 4. He should love this 12 furlong distance and I give him top billing.
2nd pick: #3 (Henley's Joy) (6-1) - This son of 'Kitten's Joy' won the G1 Belmont Derby going 10 furlongs July 6, then received a very poor ride in his follow up Aug. 4 at Saratoga. He has more positional speed than most, has traded decisions with 'Digital Age' in his last pair, and is dangerous at a square price.
3rd pick: #9 (Spanish Mission) (3-1) - One of four Europeans that shipped for this $1M contest, he's lightly raced and enters in career best form. He was an easy winner of a Group 3 going 13 furlongs at Newmarket July 11, then missed by a 'neck' in a strong field in another G3, this one at today's 12 furlong trip Aug. 1 at Goodwood. Jockey Jeremy Spencer is in for the mount and this Team Valor owned colt is in the win mix.
4th pick: #1 (A Thread of Blue) (9-2) - The main speed every time he runs, this son of 'Hard Spun' has gone 6-4-1-0 since late December with three of those wins coming in stakes. The most important came Aug. 4 when he was a wire-to-wire winner of the rich Saratoga Derby , defeating both 'Digital Age' and 'Henley's Joy'. If left unchallenged in the first mile, he could prove hard to get by in the last 4 furlongs.