Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #6 (COUNTERCYCLICAL) (7-2) - He's one of two entered by leading trainer Bob Diodoro and the pair race uncoupled. He won two in a row here earlier in the meet facing tougher before not firing in his latest (Dec 23). Barn drops him down and stalker draws outside of the speed. Gets a slight edge in a competitive contest.
2nd pick: #3 (Leo's Lookin) (5-2) - The second of the Diodoro pair, speedball is racing first off a claim. Veteran gelding has a fine local record 14-3-4-2 and is moving up just a bit in class. A threat to go wire-to-wire.
3rd pick: #5 (Believe Too) (9-2) - He's won two in a row since coming off a 4 1/2 month layoff Nov 15. Stalker was originally on the tougher So. California circuit and broke his maiden at Santa Anita last January. Fits with his best.
4th pick: #4 (Elusive Moment) (10-1) - A 16-time winner, he's moving way up in class after back-to-back scores here facing much weaker. His latest saw him earn a figure that fits with this group if repeatable.