Top pick: #6 (PARTY RULER) - Well bet in all three of his starts, colt chased the pace last out while between runners and tired slightly in the last furlong. Effort was his first off a 8 month break and trainer Barry Abrams brings him back quickly, drops him in price, and gives him a positive rider switch to Garret Gomez. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #7 (Free Time) - Speedy gelding is racing back into shape following a pair of layoffs and last out was involved in a pace duel thru fast fractions and tired during the stretch run to finish fourth. He's had a month to recover from that effort and his connections will drop his price from $40,000 down to $20K. Should be in this from start to finish.
3rd pick: #4 (Nisus) - Grey gelding finished second at this price Mar 13th at Santa Anita but last out regressed just a bit when he ran evenly for the same price. Away for a whole year before racing Mar. 3rd, he'll be switching back to a synthetic surface and was competitive earlier in his career racing on it at Golden Gate. Can contend in this spot.