Top pick: #6 (A.P. HUTCHY) - She's one of two entered by trainer Linda Rice and the pair race uncoupled. The only filly facing the "boys" comes off a sharp pace-setting second-place finish at saratoga on August 3rd. That was her second back off a 8 1/2 month layoff, a career best, and can take this crew from gate to wire.
2nd pick: #9 (Verde Mont) - He's been competitive in all four grass starts and finished second here at this level and distance on June 8th. Training fine and stalker draws outside of the known speed. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #1 (Sunshawn) - Colt has raced evenly in his first pair and took alot of money in his July 30th race at Saratoga. He was "knocked" around early that day and has been on the sidelines since. Training well and blinkers will be added for this attempt.
4th pick: #7 (Lakota Freud) - The second of the Rice pair has been freshened-up since racing evenly at Saratoga on July 30th and it's of note that he was suffering from the heat that day as noted by the Racing Form's "chart" man. Contends today.