How to play the Pick 5

Race 7: LADY ALEXANDRA, cross entered at Belmont, didn’t fire on the synthetic surface at Presque Isle but if you toss the race you are looking at back-to-back triple-digit Beyer’s on turf including a narrow loss in the Grade 1 Highlander over this course. HOLDING GOLD might not have cared for the soft conditions in his last two and his third in the Highlander makes him a serious threat. HEMP HEMP HURRAY ran well over this course as a 2-yearold last year and appears to be rounding into form with a couple of sharp performances in sprint stakes over the main track. YORKTON romped on Tapeta in the Grade 3 Bold Venture and came back with a sharp work Oct. 6. (4)

Race 8: WILEY O’RIELLY took a big step forward in his second start and has worked well in the interim. DUN DRUM finished with good energy when he debuted in the same race the top pick exits and figures to move forward with the experience behind him. He also adds Lasix and blinkers. CHARLIE’S GAME received support in his first two starts and after taking a break has worked well leading up to this.

RACE 9: THUNDERING BLUE’s third-place finish to one of the top 3-year-olds in Europe, Roaring Lion, in the Group 1 Juddmonte International stamps him as the one to beat. FUNTASTIC didn’t fire in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer but he took them all the way in the Grade 1 United Nations two back and he is probably the one they will have to run down.

RACE 10: SANTA MONICA has thrived in North America under trainer Chad Brown. She was impressive winning the Grade 2 Dance Smartly going this distance here and followed it up with another good effort in the grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga. GOLDEN LEGEND looks like the best of the Europeans with a Group 3 win in her latest in France. STARSHIP JUBILEE has improved since she finished sixth in Santa Monica’s win in the Dance Smartly and she could win this if she can repeat her huge race in the Grade 2 Canadian. The lightly-raced Pollara won a Grade 3 in her third start in France and makes her North American debut for you know who. (4)

RACE 11: WRITTEN just missed at this level in back-to-back races on the main track and ran a decent race on the turf in a $20K n2L on turf in her latest. She will have to catch HIDDEEN APPEAL who took them a long way in her first try with winners and has worked well in the interim. (2)