Top pick: #6 (CHARLIE'S PHANTASY) - Texas-bred gelding finished second in his debut June 25 at Lone Star Park going a mile on the dirt. Freshened up since that time by trainer Danny Pish, home-bred is working very fast for this as his barn moves him to the grass for the first time. Pish wins at a 20% rate off of layoffs of this type, and this 3-year-old should win this if he takes to the surface.
2nd pick: #4 (Hipocrisy ) - Speedy gelding comes here from Prairie Meadows where he finished a pace-pressing third there going 6 furlongs Aug. 12. Improving, in a very good barn (Chris Hartman) and this 3-year-old by "Songandaprayer" will also move to the turf for the first time. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #8 (Slew Salute) - Nice debut in early July saw him rally to finish second in a grass sprint at Louisiana Downs, but last out ran poorly when trainer Ralph Irwin raced him on the dirt at the same track. Freshened up for the past 7 weeks, 3-year-old home-bred moves back to the grass and must be left in the mix.