Top Pick: #9 Journalism (8-1) - New jockey Jose Ortiz gets a shot at this talented horse that has finished first or second in nine straight races stretching back two years. This season: second in the Kentucky Derby in a close one, winning the Preakness, second in the Belmont, winning the Haskell Stakes, and second in the Pacific Classic in August. He got bottled up during a rough start after bumping with a horse leaving the gate. At the Preakness, Journalism made up five lengths on Gosger and bulled his way through several horses for the victory.
2nd Pick: #1 Fierceness (6-1) - Fierceness often sets the pace or sits just off of it. In the last three races at this distance, he has won twice and finished second once, after taking the Pacific Classic in late August. This 4-year-old colt was second to Sierra Leone in last year's Breeders' Cup despite being the 5-2 favorite.
3rd Pick: #7 Sierra Leone (9-2) - Sierra Leone has never finished worse than third in 13 starts, eight times running second or third. The last time out, at the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Sierra Leone ran second to Antiquarian. "He's the best I've ever trained, and that says a lot because I've trained some great horses," said Chad Brown.