Top pick: #6 (BACKSTREET BOSS) (3-1) - Gelding broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion at Pleasanton in late June, then raced evenly a month later at Santa Rosa in his first facing winners. Freshened up for the past seven weeks, 3-year-old has four straight bullet works at Pleasanton for his return.
2nd pick: #9 (Wise Boss) (5-2) - Lightly-raced grey gelding ran evenly at Del Mar on Aug. 21 when facing much tougher and trainer Molly Pearson will drop him from $25,000 down to $8K for this attempt. Leading rider Marty Pedroza is aloft and this 3-year-old is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Shackbamalama) (7-2) - His best races (4-1-1-2) have all come on real dirt and this son of "Broken Vow" will be dropping to a new low in price, cutting back in distance, and moving back to conventional dirt.
4th pick: #1 (Warren's Rail Bird) (8-1) - On the sidelines since late June, no-speed type has some ability, back class, and he finished second here in his only previous local start. Late threat.