Top pick: #1 (C U TIGER) (9-2) - Lightly-raced gelding has early speed and will be making back-to-back starts for the first time. He draws the rail, has lasix added, and has a solid shot at a square price.
2nd pick: #6 (Surgate) (5-2) - The probable favorite, grey gelding has been competitive in his first pair and is shortening up in distance after tiring in a 7-furlong contest here Oct. 17. In a good barn and this home bred comes in with the highest figure any of these has attained.
3rd pick: #10 (Private Goldmine) (6-1) - Freshened up since Sept. 19, gelding has shown fine early speed in a pair of grass sprints before weakening during the stretch run. Working fast locally for this and he's racing on the dirt for the first time. Win candidate.
4th pick: #4 (Our Faith) (5-1) - One of three making their debuts, gelding by "Half Ours" is in a capable barn (Frank Leggio) and this 3-year-old had a near bullet 3-furlong gate breeze on Sept. 20 at Evangeline Downs.
5th pick: #7 (Smitty's Razrhawk) (8-1) - Another making his first start, home bred by "Ide" is in a very sharp barn (Ron Faucheux) and he's done well here at this young meet.