Factor This (2) has to be considered the horse to beat, having won at this level two back while dropping out of a respectable effort against much tougher stakes foes last time. Furthermore, there does not appear to be an abundance of early speed in this race, so he may be able to control affairs up front, just as he did in that May 31 victory. I'm hardly against him, but I do think there are others to consider.

Zap Daddy (8) gets some needed class relief after failing to make an impact against tougher optional claiming fields in recent starts. Morning Stride didn't seem to handle a course with some give to it last time at Churchill Downs, but had previously run well enough to compete here.

I'm using both of them, but the horse that intrigues me at a price in this race is first time turfer GLASS BRIDGE (5). It's somewhat surprising that this runner has not been given a chance on turf up until this point given his pedigree, which is obviously geared towards that surface. Blame is one of the best turf influences out there currently, connecting with 17 percent of his starters on grass in an 862-horse sample. Glass Bridge's dam, herself a turf winner in Ireland, has thrown 2 turf winners, including stakes-placed grass horse Sachem Spirit. The second generation of this female family is incredibly turf-inclined, as his dam is a half-sister to a horse that finished second in the Group 1 Irish Derby, and his second dam is a 3/4-sister to El Gran Senor – a champion 3-year-old in Europe and an influential sire. Watching Glass Bridge's recent win at Monmouth, it's obvious that his stride has a turfy action to it, and I like that he has actually shown some tactical speed in his races, which should come in handy here.