KEY CONTENDERS

Sound Defence, by First Defence Last 3 Beyers: 66-78-76

◗ The speed of the speed, she could be hard to run down if she breaks on top and takes a shine to a course she has never raced over.

Island Reward, by Street Boss Last 3 Beyers: 76-82-81

◗ She hasn’t raced for two months, but has won twice off a layoff.

◗ Over the past five years, trainer Jason Servis has a 24 percent strike rate with horses running in turf sprints that were coming back in 31 to 60 days.

Crazy About Jazz, by Big Brown Last 3 Beyers: 74-73-52

◗ Trained by Christophe Clement, the lightly raced 4-year-old is coming off backto-back runner-up finishes in $40,000 claiming races for nonwinners of two.

◗ Her jockey, Edgard Zayas, had a big day Saturday, winning four races including three stakes.

Little Nicole, by Trappe Shot Last 3 Beyers: 72-60-58

◗ She was coming off a lengthy layoff and making her first start over this surface when she easily won a maiden special weight race for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza on Oct. 15.

◗ A 3-year-old filly with just four starts, she has had two sharp interim works and could be sitting on another big effort.