Top pick: #10 (BLUE PIGEON) (7-2) - Thought he may have been best when he finished a close up third here at this level going 7-furlongs just 13-days ago. He had a bit of traffic trouble that day and believe he was over-confidently ridden. Very consistent sort stretches back out to a mile and draws a nice post. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Macagone) (4-1) - Son of grass sire "Artie Schiller" has finished a close up second in two straight at this level and was beaten just under a length here going 7-furlongs on Oct. 13. He was a length better than "Pigeon" that day, retains Castellano, and should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #1 (Boston Strong) (10-1) - Lightly-raced and well bred, he's been sharp in all his races (3-1-0-2) and broke his maiden here on Sept. 17 going 8.5-furlongs. Son of "Pioneer of the Nile" has a flexible style and looks to have a bright future. A threat in his first against winners.
4th pick: #8 (Bajan Summer) (8-1) - Lightly-raced gelding by "Speightstown" has run well in all his turf starts at 5-1-1-2 and enters off of three straight solid starts facing "open" mid-level claimers. His latest saw him beaten a length for a $40K tag going 7-furlongs and it earned him a career best figure that fits nicely with this group.
5th pick: #3 (Oklahoma Den) (10-1) - No-speed type has been facing "open" company since late July of 2013 and has been competitive in all five starts out of town since returning from a seven month layoff in late July. He'll need a fast and/or contested pace and a "trouble" free trip for anything more than a minor award.