Top pick: #2 (MANANDO) (2-1) - He's one of two promising colts entered by trainer Bob Baffert and the pair race uncoupled. The field's most experirnced runner (3-0-0-3) has the best early speed of this crew and breaks just off the rail. $300,000 son of "Bluegrass Cat" stretches out for the first time and will prove "tough to catch."
2nd pick: #4 (Curly Top) (7-5) - The second of the Baffert colts is the probable heavy favorite based on his debut when he rallied to miss by a length when racing here at this distance Nov. 18. He's worked fast since, retains Bejarano, and is an obvious win candidate.