Top pick: #5 (TO HONOR AND SERVE) - Trainer Bill Mott elected to skip the "Gold Cup" later on today's card and will use this $400K stakes as this runner's final prep before the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. He won the (G1) Woodward at Saratoga last out and defeated the very tough "Mucho Macho Man" in the process. Working fast locally and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Tapizar) - Always have liked this colt and he just now seems to be coming into his own. 4-year-old son of "Tapit" comes off a career best when winning a $200K stakes at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 4, his first start since March 10th. Working fine and his flexible running style is a plus.
3rd pick: #6 (Shackleford) - He ran a career best whe taking an exciting renewal of the (G1) Metropolitan H. here on May 28th, but never fired in the Forego(G1) at saratoga on Aug. 5. Working very fast at Churchill Downs for today's attempt and he has Ramon Dominguez aboard for the first time. Look for a big race from him in this spot.