Top pick: #9 (SASSICAIA) (3-1) - He's one of a trio of main track only entrants, and with the switching of this contest to the dirt they all are win candidates. This son of "Bernardini" cost a whopping $1,600,000 as a 2-year-old in training in March of 2013 and has gone 3-0-2-1 in his dirt starts. Speed/stalker is training sharply for his first since May 25th and trainer Chad Brown wins at an excellent 29% rate off of long layoffs.
2nd pick: #10 (Rare Eagle) (4-1) - Colt doesn't have any early speed but has rallied to grab small slices many times on the dirt 9-0-1-5. Strong finisher would benefit greatly if the pace was fast and/or contested.
3rd pick: #11 (Jazz Player) (8-1) - Lightly-raced and speedy, he set a quick and pressured pace while between runners and held until the last furlong racing at this level and distance at Belmont Oct. 24. Colt by "Malibu Moon" cost $450K and trainer Gary Contessa has him making back-to-back starts for the first time. A threat on the lead at a square price.