Top pick: #2 (ODESSA'S HOPE) - Colt tired in the slop while racing wide on Jan. 7 facing $50,000 foes. Freshened-up for the past 50 days by trainer Steve Asmussen, he adds blinkers this afternoon and cuts the maiden's price in half. Working well, and Dominguez sticks. The pick.
2nd pick: #8 (Figgy's Freud) - Another who drops in half and gets the addition of blinkers. Gelded son of "Freud" returns from almost a four-month layoff in this spot. Dangerous rival.
3rd pick: #5 (Mandate) - Gelded son of "Hook and Ladder" just missed in his debut running for this $25K price. Moved up to a maiden special next out, he had problems at the start and never got involved. Trainer Tom Bush wisely drops him back down to $25,000.