1. Noble Court - Not fast enough for this group

2. Silver Timber - Turf specialist, seeems to run better in shorter races. Using underneath Exotics.

3. California Flag - Ran 10th in this race last year, has tons of early speed and then slows down. I can't use him for the win, but 2nd, 3rd or 4th are possible.

4. Lord Shanakill - Euro Turf shipper, tons of G1 / G2 experience, only knock is layoff but worth a try at 8-1.

5. Get Funky - Not fast enough on paper, toss.

6. Cannonball - Appears to be building form and could be sitting on a big one? 8-1 definitely playable.

7. Gotta Have Her - Longshot special, is 4-4 at distance and has 9 starts at OSA is 5-1-2 on turf.

8. Square Eddie - Why is this horse in this race? TOSS

9. Diamondrella - Appears to be the betting favorite, hard not to like.

10. Canadian Ballet - Is running well of late, but style is too much early speed to contend here. 5th

11. El Gato Malo - See comments for Square Eddie

12. Strike the Deal - Toss

13. Desert Code - Things to like: 5 of 9 at distance, 6 of 11 at OSA, Jockey Mig, Won this race in 08'; Things to dislike: bad post 13, not quite running the same form as 08'. Use underneath only.

14. Delta Storm - Bad Post - Not fast enough - Toss.

My 4 favorites: 4,6,7,9

My betting #'s for this race: 2,3,4,6,7,9,and 13

My $1 Trifecta: 4,6,7,9, with 2,3,4,6,7,9,13 with 2,3,4,6,7,9,13 = $120.00 ticket but should easily pay $400.00 or more if odds come up right.

Love you analysis. I agree with you about Gotta Have Her and Cannonball. I love the fact that Ward said Cannonball is going to win.  I like to see trainers having confidence in their horses. I like Diamondrella, but I'm worried her last race isn't setting her up for this shorter trip.  She was way back in that mile race and came flying at the end. If she was closer to the pace at that mile trip, I would be more likely to put her on top. She has adapted before and won going shorter from a longer race, but I think I'm going to put  her on the bottom end of the exotics and use your other key winners on top. 

valuebets....

Strike the Deal is a major longshot player in this race....Toss at your own risk!

aug.....

California Flag got loose yesterday and took off.  Had about a five furlong work running back to the barn.

I agree STD has a chance here. He has never gone particularly well in big fields (he is only small and liable to feel intimidated or get bumped) though which would be the worry. I'm not sure he has a great post either. We shall see.

Yours in sport,

Gladiatorus