Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #1 (MACHO ORB) (3-1) - Filly is one of two entered by Steve Asmussen and the pair race uncoupled. She finished second for a $16K price tag at this distance Aug. 16 at Ellis Park and was claimed that afternoon by Asmussen. He wins at a 21% rate first off the claim and this daughter of 'Orb' gets top billing from her ground saving post.
2nd pick: #5 (Countenance) (5-2) - The second of the fillies from the Asmussen barn, she was competitive in both starts at Saratoga after coming off a 5.5 month layoff July 26. 4yo by 'Bellamy Road' is an obvious win candidate and I could have easily made her the top selection.
3rd pick: #9 (Piercing Star) (6-1) - A $130K daughter of 'Exchange Rate', she's finished in two straight at this level on the grass and did so here going a mile Sept. 5. Lightly raced and improving, she must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #4 (Gray Girl) (5-1) - Filly tired when debuting in a dirt sprint at Prairie Meadows June 1. Trainer Scott Young switches her to the turf while stretching her out in distance. A daughter of 'Gio Ponti', she may be in this from gate-to-wire.
5th pick: #2 (Okie Footnote) (15-1) - Home bred raced both wide and evenly here in a dirt sprint Aug. 28 facing fellow Oklahoma breds. It was her first race since Dec. 15 and she's moving to the turf, stretching out in distance, and does so facing 'open' company. She has some tactical speed and may get a share at a big price.