Top pick: #13 (SUM MIDNIGHT STAR) (6-1) - Home bred is taking the big drop into maiden claimers for the first time. Colt by 'Midnight Lute' is working fast for trainer Bob Baffert, and this outside post at this distance is a plus if he breaks running.
2nd pick: #8 (Nevada Time) (5-2) - The 'morning line' favorite, speed/stalker missed by a 'head' at this tag going 6-furlongs Dec. 20th at Los Alamitos. Lightly raced and an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #7 (Surfer Moon) (8-1) - He's had a lot of chances, but enters off a solid third place finish here at this tag Dec. 31st. Gelding has worked fast since and he had some promise early in his career.
4th pick: #2 (Zen Zai Sun) (4-1) - Gelding ran evenly while having some traffic woes when debuting in late Nov. at Del Mar. Working steadily since, trainer Phil A'mato (24% second time out) switches him to conventional dirt.
5th pick: #14 (Militant) (6-1) - He's been competitive in three straight at this level. Gelding has some positional speed and that can help him avoid a wide trip into the turn. Believe a small slice is his ceiling.