Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #1 (CLINT MAROON) (3-1) - He enters off a third-place finish here at this level going a mile Jan. 9. Only his second start, it was his first since debuting at Belmont Park in an 'off the turf' contest Oct. 7. He had a tough post (11 of 12) last out and made up some ground while wide down the stretch. Home bred has a ground-saving post and I like his chances.
2nd pick: #5 (Value Engineering) (7-2) - This $250,000 son of 'Lemon Drop Kid' is one of four entered making their debuts. From the barn of Chad Brown (19% first out), colt has been in steady training at the Palm Meadows Center since Nov. 10. This is not an easy first out distance, but Brown wins at a 20% rate at it and he has Javier Castellano aboard.
3rd pick: #4 (Overbold) (6-1) - Blinkers go on this $500,000 son of 'Uncle Mo'. He raced evenly here when debuting at this level going a mile Dec. 30. Colt broke poorly and was bumped at the same time and think he'll be competitive with an alert start and John Velazquez back on the re-ride.
4th pick: #3 (Kitten's Spa) (8-1) - Another colt who broke poorly in his debut, Ramsey home bred by 'Kitten's Joy' made up good ground during the stretch run and has been given 10 days off by Mike Maker. He wins at a 19% rate off of lengthy breaks and has worked this colt locally a half-dozen times since Dec. 22.