Top pick: #3 (BATTLE HARDENED) - He's still a maiden and will run in this stakes after being scratched out of a maiden contest today at Gulfstream Park. Price play has finished second in both starst since he was sent around two-turns and he ran a very strong race at Gulfstream when beaten a head there Dec 31st. Trainer Ed Kenneally has worked him three times since Jan. 14 and this maiden has a strong chance at a big price.
2nd pick: #10 (Reveron) - He continues to improve in each start and last out he became a stakes winner when he won the $100K Gulfstream Park Derby at this distance on Jan. 1. Race was his first around two-turns, his best yet, and he's now won three in a row.
3rd pick: #4 (Ecabroni) - Speedy and lightly-raced colt from the Pletcher barn broke his maiden at Gulfstream in wire ti wire fashion going 7 furlongs on Jan. 14. He's worked fast since and will take a big step up this afternoon. His speed makes him dangerous.
4th pick: #1 (State of Play) - This will be his first race on the dirt and he's training nicely here on it. Son of "War Front" won a G2 grass stakes at Saratoga last summer, and if he takes to the new footing he's a threat.