Top pick: #8 (GINO AND THE JETS) (6-1) - Colt has been freshened up since Oct. 6 when he tired badly going a mile on the Belmont lawn. He's working nicely for a good barn (Jay Servis) and he cuts him back in distance and moves him from grass back to the dirt.
2nd pick: #5 (Kick' n Butt) (3-1) - One of eight making their debuts and this son of "Posse" is in the barn of Todd Pletcher (29% first out). Colt had a sharp half-mile gate breeze on Nov. 11 and looks well-prepared with Castallano aboard.
3rd pick: #10 (Junger) (10-1) - Bred/owned and trained by John Hertler, colt has shown excellent early speed racing on the turf and has a sharp recent dirt drill at Belmont. Can factor if he can transfer his speed to the main-track.
4th pick: #3 (Latigo Trail) (8-1) - Another of the debuting octet, he's worked a half-dozen times since Oct. 6 and is by a good first out stallion ("Freud").
5th pick: #1 (Bass River Road) (12-1) - Generazio home-bred has the rail and a bullet 3-furlong gate breeze on Oct. 27 at Belmont. Grey gelding can impact if he breaks cleanly from a tough post for a debuting 2-year-old.