Top pick: #6 (UNION RAGS) - Probably should have been the 2-year-old champ despite losing by a head to Hansel in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile (G1) last Nov. at Churchill. $390,000 son of "Dixie Union" looked super when he won the Fountain of Youth S.(G2) here going 8.5 furlongs on Feb. 26 in a impressive start to his 3-year-old campaign. Working well since, he's the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Take Charge Indy) - He showed enough talent last eason to hint that he may be a "Derby" contender. Colt by "A.P. Indy" finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile", a contest where he had some traffic issued around the far turn. He finished a pace-setting second to "El Padrino" in his seasonal bow here Jan. 29. Training fast at Palm Meadows for this, trainer Pat Byrne scratched him out of the Tampa Bay Downs Derby (G3) two weeks ago to await this spot.
3rd pick: #8 (El Padrino) - He's (5-3-1-1) overall and returns from the fair Groungs where he won the Risen Star S.(G2) Feb. 25. Stalker was winner on this surface in late Jan. and he's clearly improving.