Top pick: #1 (BRANCHING OUT) (2-1) - He hasn't shown much in any of his three appearances but they all came facing much tougher. Trainer Tim Hamm (who won a pair here on Monday night) drops this son of "Rock Hard Ten" to a new low and colt meets a very weak small field. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Mistrial) (8-1) - He has the best early speed of this group and I expect veteran Deshawn Parker to put this 4-year-old right on the lead and tray and steal this. Gelding runs third off a layoff, goes dirt to "poly," and he finished second on a similar surface in late Dec. at Turfway park.
3rd pick: #5 (Fox House) (6-1) - Tampa shipper is lightly raced, has a bit of speed, and last out finished fourth of nine, racing at this level and distance. Home-bred can grab a share with his best.