Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (BANDIDO TOO) (9-2) - He 'hopped' at the start here facing tougher Dec. 31st and then ran evenly once in stride. Speed/stalker was racing off a two-month break and worked fast at San Luis Rey Downs Jan. 10th. Trainer Adam Kitchingman brings him back in 18 days and drops him to a new low in claiming price. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Cougar Country) (4-1) - Gelding was a winner Dec. 5th at Los Alamitos racing for a $12.5K tag. It was his first back off a 10-week break, and this 4yo cleared the 2l condition that afternoon. Claimed that day by John Brocklebank, he's worked him three times since and moves him up a bit in price.
3rd pick: #1 (Monsieur Power) (8-1) - Irish import is racing second off a Hollendorfer claim. One run type ships from Golden Gate Fields where he went 6-2-1-3 racing on the Tapeta surface. Freshened up since Nov. 29th, Hollendorfer has him racing on conventional dirt for the first time.
4th pick: #8 (Cowtownmary) (8-1) - Speedy gelding was an easy wire-to-wire winner Dec. 17th at Los Alamitos racing for a $7,000 claiming price. A career best overall, 5yo was claimed that day by Jim Glenn, Jr. He's put a pair of very sharp works into him since the barn change, and I think he'll factor right back at a big price.