Top pick: #1 (RISESEASTSETSWEST) (9-2) - Santa Anita invader runs off a trainer change to Angel Silva (17% with new arrivals), and he moves this well-bred gelding to the grass for the first time. Can takes this at a square price in his first at Turf Paradise.
2nd pick: #3 (Mancala) (7-2) - Speedy and improving, gelding comes off a career best when he set a pressured pace and held to finish second here at this level going a mile on the grass Nov. 11th. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #8 (Noble Vision) (5-1) - Lightly raced and well-bred, he exits the same last race as both "Mancala" & "Cal," and he raced evenly that day while about 4 1/2 back of both of those rivals. Race was his first in a year, and trainer Valorie Lund brings him back in two weeks and adds blinkers.
4th pick: #2 (Runaway Cal) (4-1) - "Long time" maiden, he's gone 17-0-3-4 on the grass, and has been competitive in both local starts (2-0-1-1). In shape, retains Scott Stevens, and gelding was only a 1/2 length back of "Mancala" last out.