Top pick: #7 (DUST AND DIAMONDS) - Lightly raced, well-bred, and talented she's perfect two-for-two racing on the dirt, with her only sub-par outing coming when she finished third in a $100K stakes on the Presque Isle "poly" last fall. Away for almost a year, she was an impressive and easy winner at Saratoga Sept. 4th in an entry-level allowance and trainer Steve Asmussen has her expertly spotted today in this allowance/optional claimer. Home-bred daughter of "Vindication" draws a nice outside post and can take this field from start to finish.
2nd pick: #4 (Precious Soul) - She looked sharp when winning a 2l allowance at Saratoga Aug. 1, then had a troubled trip next out there in the G3 Victory Ride S. She ran very poorly here going a mile at this level on Sept. 15, so trainer Allen Jerkens will cut her back to a sprint. Contends in this spot.
3rd pick: #6 (Cinco de Mayo Mio) - After a solid second-place finish at Saratoga at this level August 19 (her first race in four months), she ran poorly here last out on a sloppy surface. She has more ability than she showed that day and is a stretch threat in this spot.