Top pick: #1 (CONTRIBUTOR) (5-1) - Arlington shipper comes west in shape, and last out finished second there facing similar on the grass. Home bred has the rail, has worked twice locally, and gets a slight edge in a very competitive contest.
2nd pick: #5 (Clever Royal) (7-2) - He ran a career best "figure" when he missed by a 1/2 length racing for a $30K tag at Churchill Downs on June 1. Claimed that day by Bob Hess, Jr., he's been freshened up since and is in the win mix.
3rd pick: #6 (Papa's Paisley) (15-1) - Longshot missed by a 'nose' last out at Pleasanton racing on the dirt. Nice effort was his first off a Kitchingman claim, and he switches him to the grass for today's attempt. Price play.
4th pick: #10 (Hobbit's Hero) (5-2) - He's been freshened up since late in the Santa Anita meet when he put together a three race winning streak. Speed/stalker draws a tough outside post, but has enough gate speed to not let it hurt his chances. Major threat if he returns in the same form of seven weeks ago.
5th pick: #9 (Local One Thirty) (4-1) - Another coming from Arlington, he's finished third in both grass attempts there, and both were against slightly better. Stalker is in a winning barn (Mike Stidham) and colt had a sharp local work on July 20.