Top pick: #8 (SMOOTH BERT) - Colt has been competitive in both appearances and rallied to finish second here on Sept. 19. That effort proved two things. No. 1, he can handle this main track, and No. 2, that his first start wasn't a fluke when he rallied to run third at Saratoga on a sloppy surface. Stretches-out to a mile and that should be in his favor.
2nd pick: #3 (Ultimate Empire) - Trainer Tom Albertrani likes to give his horses a start before asking them for their best and this colt rallied while wide to finish a distant third when debuting at Saratoga on Aug. 6. Working well locally and the added distance in today's attempt is a plus.
3rd pick: #7 (Sunlover) - Colt has some fine early speed to utilize and he's taken betting action in three straight starts. Trainer Dale Romans switches him back to the dirt and colt has a pair of sharp back-to-back works showing. Win candidate.