1st: 6-4-7-9…Oldwick (6) is owned and trained by Steve Asmussen, and gets his regular rider in this spot.  Gets back on the grass today and he last time seen on this surface, he was a winner.  May turn the trick again today.  Billy Two Hats (4) gets back on the grass today, too.  Last time on this surface, he was going for $15K and now is in at $5K.  Have to consider with Jesus Castanon up.  If You Build It (7) hasn’t been out since last Labor Day, but was a powerhouse then.  Goes for a trainer that can get them ready off the layoff.  Maybe be ready.  I bet the 6 to win/place and then box the 6-4-7 in exactas.

2nd: 5-3-6-2…Ian Wilkes will tighten the girth on Seems a Fortune (5) and this one should be tough on the class drop.  The team of owner Maggi Moss and trainer Chris Richard are always tough, seemingly.  And, Gingermore is likely to be the post time favorite with this class dropper.  Cheyenne Blues (6) was claimed in her last out and gets a bump up.  I bet the 5 to win/place and then box the 5-3-6 in exactas.

3rd: 8-10-1A…Maximum Edge (8) plummets from $30K to $7.5 today an should enjoy the class relief.  Run to Glory (10) gets a new trainer and a drop back down the ladder.  Should help.  Midnight Tale (1A) could challenge if she draws into the field, with a huge drop in class here.  I bet the 8 to win and then box the 8-10-1A in exactas.

4th: 4-5-1-3…Minegold (4) is my pick here for a barn that has struggled this year.  Has run a second and third in the last two and may be ready to graduate today.  Tito Tonight (5) is a first timer for a solid barn and you have to use.  I bet the 4 to win/place and then box the 4-5-1 in the exactas.

5th: 2-6-4-7…Very Elegant (2) goes for Bernie Flint, who knows how to win races.  Any where.  Any place.  Gets another class drop today and should be OK.  Bodelicious (6) is by a solid, young sire and should relish the class drop in here.  Strict (4) is bred for the grass.  I bet the 2 to win/place and then key over/under the rest.

6th: 6-4-2-5…Same three numbers on top, just jumbled up a bit.  This time I go with the 6 on top (Rippin Ride), who is trained by JR Caldwell, who is having a good year.  Drops all the way from the allowance ranks at Lone Star to the bottom of the claiming ranks here.  Should be time.  Sounds Devine (4) nearly held on at 26-1 odds in his last.  Sir Nicholas (2) caught the slop at Indiana Grand in his last.  I bet the 6 to win/place and then key over/under the rest.

7th: 3-4-2-1-6…Donwell (3) is my Best Bet of the Day. This one goes for a new barn today and has faced some real good ones in the past — like McCormick, who just ran a very game second in the Iowa Derby.  I bet the 3 to win/place and then key over/under all the rest.  If the 3 runs his race in this one, he should be wearing the laurels today.

8th: 3-8-2-1-9…Gentle Ruler (3) goes for a barn that normally doesn’t crank them up for a first start — especially 2YOs.  But this one is training so well and I love Colonel John progeny on the grass. I go here.  Flat Awesome Jenny (8) is a first timer that gets the riding services of Corey Lanerie, the best in the Midwest.  Lulling stone (2) goes for a local trainer that knows what he is doing and has been bet down twice.  Watch out.  I bet the 3 to win/place and then key over/under the rest.

9th: 8-7-6-2-4…Conquest Hiosilver (8) drops a bit for a good barn and a talented rider.  Out of a Silver Hawk mare should be enough to put this one on the muscle in a grass race. Two Run Triple (7) gets a class drop and the grass for the first time.  That combo should be enough to help over the hump, coming off a good run in his last.  Thiamin (6) has a shot.  I bet the 8 to win/place and then box the 8-7-6.

Good luck &

All the Best/Gene