Top pick: #9 (SUANCESONG) (5-1) - He's run well in both starts at this meet going shorter at this tag and trainer Doug O'Neill will stretch him back out around two turns. Strong finisher has become more competitive since dropping down in price and can run these down at a square price.
2nd pick: #1 (Denny the Great) (4-1) - Home-bred missed by a nose here at this tag and trip on Nov. 15 in his first off a seven week freshening. By far his best to date, he was 21-1 that afternoon and will be a fraction of those odds today. Very dangerous from his inside post if he repeats that overall effort.
3rd pick: #7 (Swiss Emperor) (7-2) - He returned from a layoff during the summer a better horse and comes into this off a pair of solid efforts racing at this level on the Santa Anita dirt. Speed/stalker is makking his 26th start, but is a major force today as he seeks that elusive first victory.
4th pick: #10 (Jay's Firetruck) (9-2) - He's also is a better runner since returning from a two month break in late October. Last out checked-in a wide third on Nov. 15, a contest where he was almost 4 lengths back of "Denny." Trainer John Sadler has worked him twice since and 3-year-old must be left in the mix.