Top pick: #6 (Justin Phillip) - I'm taking a stand against "Uncle Mo", though it wouldn't be a surprise if he won. This colt comes out of a nice "tightener" in the G2 Amsterdam S. where he pressed a very fast pace and tired to finish fourth. Race was his first since an easy win in the G2 Woddy Stephen's S. at Belmont June 11. He likes this distance, has a versatile style, and can win this at a nice price. The top pick, he's one of two entered by trainer Steve Asmussen and they'll race as separate interests.
2nd pick: #4 (Dominus) - The second of the Asmussen pair will be cutting back in distance after he tired to finish 3rd in the G2 Jim Dandy going 9 furlongs here July 30. Lightly raced and talented, he was a smashing maiden winner this past March at Santa Anita in his only previous try at this distance.
3rd pick: #2 (Caleb's Posse) - He rallied into a fast and contested pace to win the G2 Amsterdam on August 1 in his first start ever outside the midwest. The pace will certainly be fast again this afternoon and he'll be flying late.
4th pick: #7 (Uncle Mo) - Last year's 2-year-old champ went to the sidelines after being injured in the G1 Wood Memorial April 9 that knocked him off the "Triple Crown" trail. Working fast and one of his best ever came on this surface a year ago when he broke his maiden in his debut. An obvious win threat, but he'll be over-bet and gives away a recency edge to all the others.