Top pick: #5 (KATHLEEN ROSE) (9-5) - Lightly raced, talented, and still improving, home-bred tackles winners for the first time. She broke her maiden here going "down the hill" on Nov. 3, but had just missed in her previous race at this mile distance. Speed/stalker is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #8 (Mangita) (6-1) - Undefeated (2 for 2) filly hasn't raced since May 3rd when she won a two-turn contest on the Hollywood "poly." Working well for her return, owner/trainer/breeder Bruce Headley will race her on the turf for the first time.
3rd pick: #6 (Warren's Dixi Belle) (8-1) - Another who's lightly raced, she broke her maiden in late August at Ddel Mar on a disqualification. Fits, and strong finisher should get a lively pace to close into.
4th pick: #4 (Flaxen Maiden) (12-1) - Price play broke her maiden on this course in late Oct. and has been in pretty deep in her first pair facing winners. Drops and can factor at long odds.