Top pick: #6 (ATTEMPT) (6-1) - Santa Anita invader drops to a new low and has a sharp local work on Jan. 24. Gelding has a new trainer (Jeff Metz 26% with new arrivals) and meets a weak field in his local debut.
2nd pick: #5 (Perfect Magic Man) (2-1) - The probable favorite, 6-year-old is another coming from Santa Anita and runs off a huge barn switch to the leading trainer here (Bob Diodoro 24% with new arrivals). Win candidate.
3rd pick: #7 (Visionary Leader) (5-2) - Lightly-raced 5-year-old grey gelding ships from Golden Gate Fields and races off a trainer change to Angel Silva. He has some early speed and is a factor if he can handle the switch from "poly" to conventional dirt.
4th pick: #8 (Victory for Ce) (4-1) - Debuting gelding has some fine works on view and has been in steady training here since mid-December. British Columbia-bred is in a capable barn and can grab a share if ready.