Top pick: #8 (SEBAGO BAY) - Colt by "Rockport Harbor" ships in from Canada for the annually high percentage barn of Larry Rivelli, who is actually based at Arlington Park. Grey 3-year-old raced evenly in a 7-furlong special weight contest on Woodbine's "polytrack" surface a year ago, a contest that was won by the talented "Bear's Future". Working steadily in Chicago for this colt has a bullet half-mile drill here eight days ago that suggests that he's all set. Meets a weak field and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Haya's Boy) - He's run well in all of his dirt starts when racing with a tag on his head. In shape and he enters this off a second-place finish at Belmont on July 4. Strong stretch threat.
3rd pick: #7 (Pitt Manuever) - He showed some fine early speed in a turf sprint at Belmont facing tougher on June 11. Gelding has a sharp drill here a week ago and trainer Gary Contessa has him set for a big race.
4th pick: #5 (Ambassador Bridge) - He hasn't raced in a year when he finished second on this course at this price and distance July 31 of 2010. That's a long time to be absent and he needs to be at his best for any chance at the win.