Top pick: #1 (AGGIE ENGINEER) - He's in career best shape at present and last out he defeated a pair of today's rivals when he went wire-to-wire in the G3 "Native Diver" at Hollywood Dec. 4. He's the main-speed agin and he draws the rail. This is his first ever on real dirt but he's working nicely here. The top choice in a difficult stakes.
2nd pick: #3 (Ryehill Dreamer) - Longshot is lightly raced and working fast on new surface here for his first ever on real dirt. Irish import was highly thought of at one time and is stringing starts together for the first time since 2008. May out-run expected long odds.
3rd pick: #5 (Spurrier) - One of a pair from the Baffert barn and they'll race uncoupled. He ran a big race at Fairplex this past fall in a $75K stakes in his only previous dirt attempt. Working fast and he has good positional speed.