Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #9 (NATIVE RIVER) (5-1) - A speedy 4yo, he's dropping to a new low while cutting back in distance. Competitive in the past sprinting against tougher, he meets a very weak field and get stop billing.
2nd pick: #3 (Junior Spradlin) (2-1) - The morning line and probable favorite, he finished a pace-pressing second here at this level Sept. 14. It was a career best to date, home bred is an obvious win candidate at a short price.
3rd pick: #2 (Natalie's Boy) (9-2) - This gelding checked in a distant fourth debuting here in a sprint for a 20K tag Aug. 30. Raised in class while stretching out in his follow up Sept. 26, he tired facing a much tougher group. Back sprinting while dropping to a new low, he should show whatever he has in this spot.
4th pick: #10 (Backslide) (15-1) - Well bred 3yo has raced poorly in a pair of starts facing tough after coming off a 10.5 month layoff Sept. 3. In a claimer for the first time, he has blinkers off and must be left in the mix at a big price.
5th pick: #6 (Starward) (10-1) - This gelding has a bit of early speed and is moving back in with fellow state breds after tiring late facing $10K 'open' claimers Oct. 5. He may hold down a share at an expected big price.