Top pick: #5 (CASUAL TRICK) - He was an impressive maiden winner at Churchill Downs going a "flat" mile on Nov 18th and trainer Nick Zito has him training very fast at the Palm Meadows Training facility. "Ridgling" by "Bernardini" cost owner Bob Lapenta a "cool" $425,000 and he can recoup some of that purchase price back this afternoon.
2nd pick: #2 (Reveron) - Calder invader has raced sharply in all 4 starts and has won his last pair in easy fashion and like many here will be trying a two-turn distance for the first time. Likes to rate a bit and he breaks near the rail.
3rd pick: #7 (Ancient Rome) - He was "all heart" when winning the $100K Spectacular Bid Stakes here on opening day (Dec 3) and has since come back with a pair of nice local works. Stretches-out for the first time and his speed makes him dangerous.