POST TIME 3:57 PM EDT -- A full field of ten 2 year-olds go 5.5 furlongs on the dirt featuring 9 first time starters. I'm sticking with the "experienced" colt here and will make #8 Thanks To Ron (3-1) my top pick. Ran well enough in his debut here sent off at 9-2 odds. Has the connections and breeding to suggest that he will move up off that good first start. Trainer Margolis is deadly with 2 year-olds making their second career start and jock Brian Hernandez has a patient way about him that is well suited to mentoring the babies.
Many of the first timers in this race will need a couple of races and will eventually be pointed to longer distances and perhaps, for a few, starts on the turf. Thanks To Ron is ready to win now.
I do like the long shot #5 Night Officer (20-1) a bit as an in-the-money bomber. Connections don't hit often with debut types and the works are anemic but sire produces early winners and this one is well suited to the distance. #3 Orale Vato (5-1) looks to be the better of the two Pletcher entrants and deserves to be included. #2 Keep On Going (6-1) is the better half of the coupling posting impressive works and breeding suggests he is ready to win now.
THE WAGER:
$15 Exacta 8 with 2,3,5
$5 Exacta 2,3,5 with 8