Top pick: #3 (K J'S MADDOG) (2-1) - He's one of two entered by trainer Val Brinkerhoff and the pair race ubcoupled. He has back class, the best grass form, and takes a big drop in class after a cloase up finish here on Dec. 29 in a 2l allowance. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #1 (Surfliner) (5-2) - He's part of a Jeff Metz trained entry and he has different riders listed on each. Lightly-raced gelding rallied to just miss facing weaker here on Dec. 23. Race was his first ever on the grass and prompt's Metz to raise him in price.
3rd pick: #2 (Higgs) (9-2) - Runs third back off an eight month layoff and trainer Eric Kruljac will drop him in class, switch him from dirt to turf, and stretch him out in distance. In his only previous grass start he tired in the $35K "Tempe Hdcp." last march.
5th pick: #7 (Teancum) (4-1) - Another that's dropping in class and is working well for his first start since Nov. 3. Has talent, early speed, and should factor today at a nice price.