Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #3 (WEST COAST) (4-1) - From the Baffert barn, lightly-raced and improving colt has won three in a row as he moves way up in class. $425,000 son of 'Flatter' won the G3 Los Alamitos Derby going nine furlongs July 15 and in his previous start he scored in Belmont's Easy Goer Stakes June 10. Working fast at Del Mar, he has good positional speed and gets a slight edge in a deep field.
2nd pick: #5 (Good Samaritan) (5-1) - Very strong finisher won the local 'prep' for this race when he scored by almost five lengths in the nine furlong Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 29. It earned him a career best figure and was his first ever on the dirt after going 6-2-2-1 on the grass. A strong stretch threat.
3rd pick: #4 (Tapwrit) (7-2) - Belmont winner has been on the sidelines since. He's working steadily for trainer Todd Pletcher and this $1,200,000 son of 'Tapit' has enough positional speed to not fall too far behind in the first half-mile. Must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #10 (Irap) (8-1) - Colt enters off a pair of wins in the mid-west. He won by a 'nose' in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown June 24, then scored by five lengths in the Indiana Derby (G3) July 15. Shipped back to Del Mar after that score, he's been training fast there for this attempt.
5th pick: #7 (Always Dreaming) (6-1) - Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, flopped in the Preakness and was sent in for a two month freshening. He set the pace here in the Jim Dandy (G2) July 29 but tired to finish third. If he needed that start, colt will be a factor with a move forward.