Top pick: #6 (SPEEDING ON BY) - Heavily bet when debuting at Calder in late Nov., she set the pace and tired in the last 100 yds to finish second, beaten a length. Training well at the same track before shipping here and daughter of "Officer" faces fellow New York-breds in this spot. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #11 (Lost Badge) - Claimed from Todd Pletcher by Dave Jacobson out of her debut on Dec. 7 for $35,000, she finished an even third that day and showed some early speed. On the shelf for the past 5 weeks, she comes back with a raise in price for a barn that wins at a 27% clip off the claim.
3rd pick: #12 (Sunny Desert) - Also races off a claim, this one by John Parisella and it came out of the same race as "Badge". She tired after racing close-up that day and finished 6 lengths back of that rival. Can factor today with slight improvement.
4th pick: #7 (Fast Fleet Cat) - Debuting filly is from the powerful barn of Chris Englehart and has been in steady training since late Oct. Nice to see Alan Garcia aboard in this home-bred's first start.