GREEN MACHINE and SAMUEL SHARPE fit similar profiles and will likely fight out the finish if building on career-best last starts. The latter is open to improvement over this extended trip but preference is for the former (2nd over track and trip) whose course-and-distance experience will stand him in good stead. EMERALD CITY runs his best races from the front and could pose a threat to the principals if confirming the improvement of his recent 3rd after a break.