Top pick: #5 (BURNING) (3-1) - Strong finisher exits a career best when he rallied to finish second here at this level going a mile on Nov. 13. Gelding by "Candy Ride" has now run second in three of his last four and all have been here at Del Mar. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Curlin Iron) (4-1) - Lightly-raced and improving, he gets the addition of blinkers and has Talamo aboard for the first time. Stretch threat.
3rd pick: #8 (Storm the Channel) (6-1) - He ran a bit head-strong in his latest and was 12 1/2 lengths back of "Burning." Gelding had finished second in three of four prior to that and gets a rider upgrade this afternoon.
4th pick: #3 (Royal Tale) (5-1) - Gelding by "Tale of the Cat" enters off a strong third place finish at this level and distance at Santa Anita on Oct. 30. It was his best by far since coming from Emerald Downs in early July and if he can repeat it on the "poly" surface he's a win candidate.
5th pick: #6 (Armensky) (20-1) - Longshot has some early speed and will attempting a two-turn trip for the first time. This field doesn't have a lot of visible speed and that makes him dangerous at a big price.