Top pick: #5 (WASHINGTON'S RULES) - One of two runners entered by trainer Rick Dutrow and the pair race uncoupled. Grey gelding just failed to catch today's rival No. 1 "Colony Strike" last out at Saratoga in a contest at this level. Training fine for his first in almost two months and he's 4-1-1-1 on off surfaces.
2nd pick: #7 (Box Office) - The second of the Dutrow pair, he's very lightly raced and takes on much tougher after breaking his maiden here at this distance on Sept. 19. Well-bred 3-year-old has a lot of potential upside and son of "Tiznow" retains Dominguez.
3rd pick: #1 (Colony Strike) - As mentioned above he hung on gamely to defeat "Washington" at Saratoga on Aug. 22 and is training fine for this attempt. The top two picks have proven that they like this surface while this home-bred by "Smart Strike" will be making his first start on it.