Top pick: #6 (VALLEY OF KINGS) (2-1) - Colt finished a pace-setting second last out at Hollywood at this level and distance Dec. 1 in his first start in eight months. Last winter at the Fair Grounds he was sharp on real dirt and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #7 (M Two Forty) (4-1) - He's one of two entered by trainer Bruce Headly and the pair race uncoupled. Speedy sort has blinkers added and is working very fast locally for his first ever on real dirt. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #3 (Parlimentarian) (5-2) - The second of the Headley pair, he hasn't raced since debuting here a year ago. Home-bred is working fine and showed good early speed before tiring in that outing. His works indicate he's ready.