Top pick: #3 (SIMON KENTON) (6-1) - Improving home bred by "Empire Maker" comes off a career best going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 7th. He raced close up while wide, bid turning for home, and stayed on gamely to finish third of eight, beaten by a length. He has more speed than most entered and worked a bullet 5-furlongs here on Dec. 23rd. Has a shot at a square price.
2nd pick: #5 (Nowalking) (5-2) - The probable favorite, strong finisher has by far the best "figures" of those that have raced. He rallied to finish second at Del Mar on Nov. 27th and has worked very fast since. Home bred by "Hard Spun" has been competitive on conventional dirt before and is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #8 (Sum Midnight Star) (12-1) - Longshot raced evenly when debuting in a Los Al sprint Dec. 11th. Son of "Midnight Lute" had worked very fast before that initial effort, and trainer Bob Baffert (25% second time out) will stretch him out in distance (27%). If you like him, you'll get the "Hall of Fame" trainer at a big price for a change.
4th pick: #6 (Opsec) (6-1) - Also from the Baffert barn, he's going turf to dirt for this assignment. Son of "Pioneer of the Nile" has some speed and experience in his corner. Don't just dismiss him.