Top pick: #9 (Jackie's Warrior) (4-5) - This 4-year-old colt is a speed demon built for sprints. Jackie's Warrior has raced five times this year winning four and finishing second. That second-place finish was the last time out at the Grade 1 Forego as surprise winner Cody's Wish had a late burst. That was at 7 furlongs, so Jackie's Warrior gets a little shorter sprint here. The previous two races were wins at 6 and 6 1/2 furlongs. At the six-furlong Vanderbilt, Jackie's Warrior won by two lengths - a Grade 1 winner at Saratoga for the third straight year, an unprecedented achievement at the country's oldest track. And jockey Joel Rosario will be atop again.
2nd pick: #2 (Kimari) (4-1) - Kimari was stretched out to 7 furlongs earlier this year and didn't fare so well. But getting under that has been a plus, winning the 6-furlong Honorable Miss Handicap and the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom Stakes in the last race in late September. She's shown versatility with stakes triumphs over dirt and turf.
3rd pick: #5 (Aloha West) (12-1) - In seven races at 6 and 6 1/2 furlongs, Aloha West has four victories and two second-place finishes. The horse is rested after winning the Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes in July. Prior to that, it was three straight Grade 1 races finishing first, third, and fourth. One of those was a 7-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes race losing to champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior.