The Select Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday has attracted a promising yet tricky-to-handicap group of 3-year-olds. Several of the top contenders in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race will either be making their grass debuts or switching back to the surface after a series of dirt races. The first-time turf runners include Bobcat, who won his Laurel Park debut by 10 lengths and has come back to win a first-level optional race for trainer Dale Capuano, and Henry the King, who won his first two starts for Greg Sacco before finishing third in the Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes at Laurel and then going to the sidelines. He will be making his first start since January. Full Salute comes into the Select off a gutsy third-level optional win over older rivals for Eddie Plesa Jr. In contrast to his usual style, he ended up on the lead that day and dug in tenaciously to win a four-horse blanket finish by a nose. He has made six consecutive dirt starts since finishing second in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth last summer in his lone race on turf. The proven grass runner in the field is Expected Ruler, trained by 21-year-old Liam Benson, who is on target to graduate in December from the Equine Industry Program at the University of Louisville. Expected Ruler rallied from off the pace to defeat Full Salute in the Tyro while making his career debut. Expected Ruler, who is 2 for 6, won a Keeneland allowance turf sprint in April. He finished seventh to Ben’s Cat on May 20 in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint. “Obviously, the Pimlico race was a tough spot,” Benson said. “But he was getting tough to train, pulling all of the riders’ arms out, and I needed to run him. This race has been the goal since we won at Keeneland.” Benson worked Expected Ruler on June 3 at Monmouth, where he was credited with five furlongs in 1:03. Benson said he actually breezed Expected Ruler three furlongs in “36 and 2” that day and then let him gallop out in 1:03. “I like the way everything is setting up,” Benson said. “He’ll have to run lights-out to win, but he has the ability to do it.” Benson plans to run Expected Ruler in the $100,000 Quick Call, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds at Saratoga, and then give him the rest of the year off. “I’ll give him 60 days and bring him back at Tampa in January,” Benson said. As for Benson, he plans to return to Churchill Downs with a small stable in September and finish his education. “After that, I’ll go where the horses take me,” he said. :: Bet Monmouth Park with DRF Bets. Get a $200 cash bonus, including $50 free just for making a deposit! Find out more today Select Sttakes, Race 10 Key contenders Expected Ruler, by Leroidesanimaux Last 3 Beyers: 80-82-59 ◗ Jockey Didiel Osorio will make his Monmouth debut on Expected Ruler. Osorio, who rides in Kentucky, was the leading rider at Ellis Park last summer. Full Salute, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 83-67-77 ◗ He has a 9-4-3-0 record. No one else in the field has won more than two races. Bobcat, by Orientate Last 2 Beyers: 73-73 ◗ He figures to vie for the early lead with Formal Summation. Henry the King, by Henrythenavigator Last 3 Beyers: 71-62-59 ◗ Because of his off-the-pace style, he could get shuffled back from post 1 in this race, which begins in the infield chute before joining the backstretch.