Top pick: #2 (DESERT STEEL) (7-2) - Grey filly has been competitive in all seven career starts, including four straight on the grass. Three-year-old enters off a big 'figure' earned when she here at this distance facing Cal. bred entry-level allowance foes Aug. 12. Stalker moves in with open company but is still the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Tale of Papa Nick) (8-1) - Speedy filly chased while wide before weakening here at this level and distance Aug. 1. It was his second back off a two-month break and she draws a much better post. Can be involved from start-to-finish at a big price.
3rd pick: #8 (Codacious) (3-1) - Home bred rallied to win her grass debut here at this distance July 19. Competitive in five of six overall, daughter of 'Desert Code' is another Cal. bred moving in with 'open' company. Lightly-raced, in shape, and 3-year-old has room for up-side.
4th pick: #6 (Bonus Spin) (5-1) - Four-year-old daughter of 'Hard Spun' is racing second back from a 9 1/2 month layoff and is making her turf debut. She finished second on the dirt in her return here July 29 and was highly thought of before being injured last October. Must be left in the mix.