Top pick: #7 (DONITA'S RULER) (3-1) - Speed/stalker comes off a career best when she defeated weaker here at this distance Nov. 15th. Daughter of "Roman Ruler" went right to the front and won by almost 16-lengths while "geared down" in the final furlong. The "figure" earned was easily the best last out of this field, and she looks set to take another.
2nd pick: #6 (Vero Amore) (9-2) - Stakes placed several times, strong finisher finished second here at this level on Oct. 26th, then followed that up with an even effort at Laurel in the $100k "Safely Kept" stakes Nov. 15th. She likes it local (5-2-1-1) and must be considered a major threat.
3rd pick: #3 (Pixie Dust) (6-1) - Bred/owned/trained by Jim Lawrence, filly did not race as a 2yo and has gone 9-3-2-1 since beginning her career in April. She's 5-3-1-0 locally and fits with her best.
4th pick: #4 (Jonata) (7-2) - New York shipper enters off an even effort in a sprint stakes at Aqu on Dec. 6th. It was her first since late August, and she's well spotted this afternoon. Stalker is making back-to-back starts for the first time since the spring when that tactic resulted in a win at Belmont. Must be left in the mix.