Top pick: #4 (BURJ DUBAI) - Gelding by "Distorted Humor" did not race until he was almost 4 1/2 years old but has proven a steady and reliable runner from day one. Stakes-placed several times at Hastings Park, he's run well in all 3 starts since coming to California and runs today first off a Mike Mitchell claim and a subsequent 7 week freshening. His latest effort was his best yet and Mitchell wins at a 37% rate first off a claim. five-year-old is working fast on the local surface and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Uh Oh Bango) - Highly thought of early in his career, he was a stakes winner as a two-year-old and was only beaten a neck in the $1M Delta Downs jackpot. Colt only made two starts in 2010 but showed his quality when he finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) last April. Away from action for 10 months, he's been competitive in all 3 of his return starts and will race today on a artifical surface for the first time. Can factor if he takes to it.