Top pick: #3 (POWHATAN COUNTY) - Gelding ships back from Finger Lakes where he just missed in an allowance run in fast time (1:10.60) for the 6 furlongs. Stakes placed earlier in his career racing on the grass, trainer Chris Englehart has him back in shape and headed in the right direction.
2nd pick: #7 (Surprise Strike) - Trained by the "other" Englehart (Jeremiah), he runs third back off a 70 day freshening and will go turf to dirt and drop down into a career soft spot this afternoon. Stalker has won 3-of-7 starts racing on the dirt and is a threat at a square price.
3rd pick: #2 (Quick Money) - Veteran is the main speed and he breaks just off the rail. Last out at Saratoga on Aug. 12 he set a fast pace and tired in the final 1/16th to finish third facing slightly tougher. He's (5-1-2-0) on "off" surfaces and is dangerous on the front-end.