Top pick: #7 (Nations Pride ) (7-2) - Over the last 13 months, this horse has finished first or second in eight of nine races with seven of those on turf. In the last two races, Nations Pride had a Grade 3 1 1/2-mile first-place finish at the Jockey Club Derby along with a Grade 1 victory at the Saratoga Derby. Six weeks ago while winning the Jockey Club Derby, Nations Pride won easily with a course record time of 2:24.14 while hitting a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
2nd pick: #5 (Rebel's Romance ) (3-1) - This four-year-old gelding made the trip from Europe to the 2021 Belmont Stakes but was a late scratch with a leg infection. Since then, Rebel's Romance has gotten healthy with four straight races since June, all on turf at this 1 1/2 mile distance. He comes off a victory at the Preis von Europa by 3/4 of a length over the highly regarded Sammarco. And Rebel's Romance is undefeated since switching to the turf surface.
3rd pick: #2 (War Like Goddess) (9-2) - This mare has held her own with nine wins in 12 career starts, including 5-for-5 at 1 1/2 miles. She won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last month pacing in third place through the first mile before turning it on with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. War Like Goddess had a similar strategy in September's Flower Bowl Invitational but finished second to Virginia Joy.