Top pick: #8 (REGAL RANSOM) - He's a very good horse when in shape and properly spotted and this 5-year-old son of "Distorted Humor" has won almost $2M. He is 2-for-2 on this surface and is training very fast for his first start since June at Churchill. Think he's sitting on a big one.
2nd pick: #7 (Aikenite) - Colt wasn't beaten much in the James Marvin S. on opening day and he was compromised by a speed favoring surface. Working nicely for this and he's 3-for-5 at this distance. Price play is one of a pair entered by leading trainer Todd Pletcher and they'll race as separate interests.
3rd pick: #1 (Jackson Bend) - He got a perfect trip and earned the highest "figure" in his career when winning the James Marvin here July 22. That made him 2-for-2 at this trip and he's working fast for this G1 contest. Threat again this afternoon.