Top pick: #6 (LICHTENSTEIN ) - Has an excellent work on the new dirt surface here Dec. 28, and this stalker looks all set in his 1st start off nearly a 3 month layoff to get his maiden win in this spot. Four-year-old is one of a pair entered by trainer Bob Baffert and they'll race uncoupled.
2nd pick: #4 (Reality Ride) - The second of the Baffert runners is working very fast for his debut, and many of the works have come on the dirt surface at Fairplex. Trainer wins at a 31% rate first time out and at a 39% rate when riding jockey Rosario. Looks like the main danger to his barn-mate.