A couple of longshots to throw into the exotics are Chrisandthecapper and Go Get the Basil. Neither of these two runners is Triple Crown nominated, so you’d have to think that the only reason they’re in this race is for the $1 million prize and the only reason to take on the year’s top three-year-olds is if their connections think they have a shot at hitting the board.
Chrisandthecapper broke his maiden in his last start, his first race of the year, by 11 ½ lengths under a hand-ride. Although he’s never attempted a route distance, this son of First Samurai out of a Seeking the Gold mare has distance in his pedigree.
Go Get the Basil was on a three-win streak before coming up a nose short in his last start. He earned a Brisnet speed figure of 101 for the loss. He has three wins and a second in six career starts. His grandsire Fusaichi Pegasus won the Wood Memorial in 2000 for trainer Neil Drysdale.
The complete field from the rail out, with odds, is: Chrisandthcapper 30-1, Normandy Invasion 5-1, Quinzieme Monarque 30-1, Elnaawi 12-1, Vyjack 4-1, Mr Palmer 12-1, Always in a Tiz 15-1, Verrazano 4-5, Go Get the Basil 30-1, Freedom Child 30-1.