Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #4 (PAYNE) (5-1) - He's one of two entered by Chad Brown and the pair race uncoupled. A lightly 5yo son of 'Paynter,' he's making his stakes debut and has gone 10-4-4-2 so far facing weaker. He's won three in a row with the last pair going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, he is working fast, and this speed/stalker gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #9 (Code of Honor) (9-5) - The morning line and probable heavy favorite, he finished a fine 3rd in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1, won the G1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 24, and was placed first here in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Sept. 28. He's been unraced since a poor effort at Santa Anita in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 2, but he is working fast and this is his home track (3-2-1-0). An obvious win threat if ready, and he would be no surprise.
3rd pick: #1 (Endorsed) (6-1) - He has a recency edge on both 'Payne' and 'Code of Honor' as he was a winner at this distance facing weaker at Gulfstream May 2. Lightly raced and talented, he had a very rough trip when finishing 4.5 lengths behind 'Code of Honor' in the Travers (G1) Aug. 24. 4yo has the rail and will need to establish a good spot early on. Godolphin owned and bred, this son of 'Medaglia d'Oro' is dangerous at a square price.
4th pick: #2 (Monongahela) (10-1) - The second of the Chad Brown runners, this veteran has improved overall since Brown took over his training early in 2019. Consistent 6yo has won stakes out of town facing weaker, but this is his favorite distance (17-6-7-2), and he's capable of factoring at a big price.