Top pick: #3 (DEVELOPER) (2-1) - Promising colt ships from Keeneland where he missed by a "head" racing at this level going 1 1/8th miles on a similar surface. A career best, it came in his second back from an 11 month layoff, and this son of "Dynaformer" is much the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Explore) (5-2) - Grey gelding was an easy gate-to-wire winner when debuting on the Tampa Bay turf for a $32K tag on Feb. 20th. Claimed that day by Maria Bowersocks, 3yo came back with a strong third place finish on the same course three weeks later in his first off the barn change. Working nicely and can factor if he brings his grass form to the "poly."
3rd pick: #2 (Gumper) (8-1) - Lightly raced grey gelding has some early speed and ships from Keeneland where he finished second for a 420K claiming tag April 13. Can impact, but he'll need to improve significantly to have any shot at defeating "Developer."
4th pick: #5 (Forever Conga) (7-2) - Strong finisher hasn't raced since March 28 at Gulfstream and will be trying a synthetic surface for the first time. Veteran has gone 18-1-4-4 racing on the turf and would love the speed to fold turning for home.