Top pick: #8 (Elite Power) (9-5) - 2022 champion sprinter Elite Power had won seven straight races before finishing second to Gunite the last time out. The two had gone head-to-head in their previous race and Elite Power won in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, so this will be the third straight race between the two speed-burners. And the last six races at 6 furlongs - all victories for Elite Power.
2nd pick: #9 (Gunite) (4-1) - In the last 12 races, Gunite has finished first or second every time but once. After besting Elite Power in August, Gunite got upset by Nimitz Class at the Parx Dirt Mile in September by 1 3/4-lengths. Gunite has also finished second in two of its last three races.
3rd pick: #2 (Dr. Schivel) (5-1) - Dr. Schivel has had a good year finishing first twice and third once in four races at 6 furlongs. The only other race was the 1-mile Grade 1 Metropolitan and this 5-year old finished fifth at the longer distance. Dr. Schivel won the Santa Anita Sprint four weeks ago and prior to that was third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes.