Top pick: #2 (HALF STRIKE) (9-5) - Lightly-raced and well-bred, gelding has a fine local record 6-1-3-1 and his stalikng style should play out nicely in this small field. 5-year-old by "Smart Strike" gets a slight edge in today's opener.
2nd pick: #4 (Candy for Debbie) (3-1) - He's the main speed of this five horse field and has almost as many wins as the rest of the group combined. He enters off a wide & even effort here at this level March 20th and draws a better post for this attempt. His speed makes him a win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Valley Cat) (5-2) - The field's strongest finisher ships down from Golden Gate Fields off a pair of solid efforts racing on the "Tapeta" surface there. Capable on conventional dirt, he has Bejarano aboard and must be left in the mix.