Top pick: #3 (HIGH TOP SWEETS) (6-1) - Mare showed good early speed before tiring when debuting facing New Mexico-bred special weights on Jan. 8. Trainer Bart Hone (19% second time out) had her work fast a week ago and the drop into maiden claimers shoud do the trick.
2nd pick: #9 (Sceanic Halo) (7-2) - Nice effort last out saw her rally from close range to finish third and beat "Sweets" by 4 1/2 lengths that afternoon. Obvious win candidate, but will be over-bet.
3rd pick: #1 (Paperless Player) (10-1) - She exits the same Jan. 8 contest as both "Sweets" and "Halo" and rallied from last to finish a close up sixth. No reason she can't be a part of this with a "clean" journey.
4th pick: #10 (Gnacarano) (9-2) - Debuting home-bred 4-year-old has a bullet half-mile work from the gate here eight days ago and that should indicate her readiness.
5th pick: #8 (Vanessa Flag) (8-1) - She raced evenly here facing tougher back on Dec. 15 in her first in eight months. Can grab a small share at a big price with additional improvement.