Top pick: #9 (Delight ) (6-1) - Delight has shown impressive flexibility with two straight victories at different tracks and lengths. At 7 1/2 furlongs, this horse won a Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar and followed that with a win on this same turf at Keeneland. Delight took the 1 1/6-mile Jessamine by 5 lengths, breaking well and leading from start to finish.
2nd pick: #5 (Pleasant Passage) (12-1) - This two-year-old Filly has won both of its starts at 1 1/6-miles on turf. Last month, Pleasant Passage was 15-to-1 but won the Miss Grillo trophy with a gate-to-wire three-quarter-length victory. She bested Free Look, who came in second and is one of the favorites in this race. Irad Oritz, Jr. rode her to victory and will be atop again. Ortiz won the 2022 Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal.
3rd pick: #2 (Cairo Consort) (12-1) - Joel Rosario rides a horse that keeps performing very well the longer the distance. Cairo Consort won the Catch A Glimpse 6-furlong turf race by 2-lengths, then the athletic horse finished second at the one-mileGrade 1 Natalma in September. Trainers have noticed a competitive streak that will bode well with an established jockey in command.