Top pick: #8 (GRAND STRATEGY) - Gelding is training very fast for his first start since late Aug. when he was beaten by a nose at Saratoga racing for $50K. Four-year-old drops to a new low in price and his trainer (Kiaran McLaughlin) is very good off of long breaks (29%). Can win this with his best.
2nd pick: #6 (Caneros) - Colt by "Distorted Humor" races third off a long layoff and trainer Bill Mott will drop him into a claimer, shorten him up in distance, and switch him from the grass back to the main track. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Excise the Demons) - Gelding raced close-up before tiring when debuting here in a very tough special weight contest May 21st. Veteran trainer John Parisella drops him into a claimer and names his go-to rider Ramon Dominguez for this attempt. Can factor on the drop.