Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (COTTON CANDY CUTIE) (5-2) - Veteran mare enters off a pace setting 2nd place finish here going a mile Dec. 13. It was her first back off a brief break (seven weeks) and she breezed a sharp half-mile Dec. 25. 5yo has done some good work at aqueduct (7-2-3-1) and gets a slight edge in this one.
2nd pick: #4 (Summer Squeeze) (8-1) - Longshot is lightly raced and is racing off just under a three-month break. I like her work pattern, and this 3yo still has room for upside. I think she may factor at a big price.
3rd pick: #6 (That's Smart) (6-1) - Another 3yo facing older, she broke her maiden here going a mile in an 'off the turf' contest Nov. 29. Home bred by the late 'Smart Strike' should like this nine-furlong distance, and enters off a sharp half-mile work Dec. 24.
4th pick: #7 (Timely Tradition) (5-1) - Sprinter is stretching out in distance and dropping in class following an even effort here in a grass sprint facing tougher Nov. 18. She's won six of 11 on the dirt and won around two-turns at Finger Lakes Aug. 1. 4yo must be left in the mix.