Top pick: #4 (DUKE OF MARMALADE) - One of a pair from entered by Aidan O'Brien and they'll race as separate interests. This son of "Danehill" has earned over 2.5 million and this season is 5 for 6, all in Grade 1 events. Only "out of the money" finish came in the recent "Arc" when he had a very wide trip and finished a close up 7th. He's never run on anything but turf and it's always a gamble whether they'll take to a new surface, but the same can be said for "Curlin" and several of the others. Colt brings a nice stalking style to the contest and the pace here should be more of relaxed variety, much more like a grass race. Can win this if he runs his "A" race.
2nd pick: #9 (Curlin) - Not much else can be said. In under two years he's become North America'a all-time leading money earner. Has proven a verastile and durable runner and it's a testament to his owner and trainer that they're running him with seemingly "a lot to lose" if he does so. Recent "public" work on this surface was impressive and trainer Steve Asmusen could have backed off with grace, but he must have really liked what he saw. If this race was on a conventional dirt surface, he would destroy the American runner's entered, with only the top pick a threat. Champ if 6 for 7 at this distance on dirt with his only "loss" a 3rd place finish in the "07" Derby, when he was still learning. Hard not to "root" for him as I've always considered him something special. Defending champ in this race could really put a "stamp" on a remarkable career with a win.
3rd pick: #3 (Tiago) - Late runner has really taken to the synthetic surfaces (8-2-3-1) all of which have come in Graded stakes competition. He's the only horse entered with a race on this "Pro-Ride" surface, and it was a strong 2nd place finish in the "Goodwod"(G1) on Sep 27th. Capable of stalking from mid-pack or coming from far-back, he's training in fast and steady fashion. Don't ignore.
4th pick: #1 (Go Between) - Synthetic specialist (6-3-3-0), he's had quite a career (26-8-7-6), with close to $3,000,000 in earnings. In the capable hands of "Hall of Famer" Bill Mott, he draws the rail and will need something like a fast/contested pace to make his one-run count. Exotics threat and if things break right maybe more.