There are many contenders in this race, but none of them looks to have a significant edge. It’s possible that Proven Reserves (3) will go off as the favorite, as he showed a ton of ability when winning his debut by more than six lengths at Aqueduct. The speed figure that he earned that day makes him good enough to beat this field. His second start was surprisingly flat, but it’s possible that racing so late into the evening may not have agreed with him, as that was the final race on a lengthy Belmont Stakes card. Chad Brown adds blinkers for this stretch-out around two turns.

I also want to use Holland Park (4), a very well-bred colt who finally appears to be figuring things out. He ran some pretty slow races over the winter, but he took a big step forward in the Federico Tesio last time despite getting into trouble early in that race. The concern with him is not the distance but rather the three-month layoff heading into this race.

I’m taking a shot with MEISTERMIND (1), who figures to be a decent price. This colt also is bred to be a top runner, as a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Pacific Classic winner Dullahan. Clearly, he’s bred to run all day, and he indicated that added distance was exactly what he needed when winning his maiden last time out at Churchill Downs. That win may have appeared to come out of nowhere, but it was his second start off a layoff, and he had shown some potential as a 2- year-old. The speed figure came back fast, and enough horses have done well out of that race to suggest it’s pretty valid. Meistermind showed improved speed in that spot, and he figures to do the same from his inside post here under the hot Ricardo Santana Jr.