Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #10 (ORBED) (9-2) - $525K purchase finished fourth in a strong field when debuting at Aqueduct going 6 furlongs on the dirt Nov. 25. Working fast at Palm Meadows for this attempt, think he has a strong chance from a good post in this 7 furlong contest.
2nd pick: #6 (Life's a Parlay) (3-1) - Debuting son of 'Uncle Mo' cost $725,000 as a yearling and has been brought along slowly by trainer Todd Pletcher (27% first out). In steady training since mid-November at the Palm Beach Downs Training Center, Pletcher has him long time 'go to' rider John Velazquez aboard.
3rd pick: #12 (Apostle) (6-1) - This colt by 'Medaglia d'Oro' sold for $900,000 last March as a 2-year-old in training. Prepared at Palm Meadows by trainer Ed Plesa Jr., the best of those drills was a near bullet 5 furlongs from the gate Dec. 2.
4th pick: #5 (Cove Blue) (8-1) - Freshened up since Nov 19, colt has god early speed and is training above average on the local dirt for his return. $300K son of 'Ghostzapper' has taken good betting action in all three starts and his experience in this lightly raced field is a plus.