Top pick: #1a (CARAMEAWAY) (3-1) - Daughter of "Lawyer Ron" is having an outstanding year 10-3-3-2 ($217K earned) and has the best early speed in this $100K stakes. She was a winner here at this trip on Dec. 5 and has since come back with a bullet 5-furlong breeze Dec. 22. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Macha) (7-2) - The class of the field, filly was stakes placed on the west coast earlier in her career and is making only her second start on the NYRA circuit. Unraced since Oct. 11th she rallied from far back to finish third in a sprint stakes on the dirt at Fresno. She has one dirt win to her credit and should factor this afternoon.
3rd pick: #7 (Get Gorgeous) (12-1) - Cheaper sort was pulled-up last out on a very muddy surface Nov. 28. Prior to that, speed/stalker had gone 11-3-3-2 this year on the dirt and filly has gone 12-3-1-2 on this inner surface in the past.
4th pick: #5 (Flipcup) (7-2) - No speed type moves back in with fellow state breds after showing nothing after facing G3 "open" company Nov. 29. Strong finisher has won several stakes and has gone 2-1-1-0 on the inner surface in the past.
5th pick: #10 (Storied Lady) (8-1) - Hard hitter draws a very tough post for this attempt. However strong finisher has been much closer to the pace since blinkers went on and all three career wins have come on this inner surface. She'll need some pacer help for anything more than a minor award.