Top pick: #2 (TAELYN'S PRINCE) (3-1) - Gelding by grass champ "English Channel" has never run a bad race in nine lifetime starts. The first eight of those were on the turf and he won his dirt debut here going a mile on a muddy surface Dec. 13. Stalker is lightly-raced, in shape, and will get the addition of blinkers.
2nd pick: #1 (Edison) (4-1) - One of two entered by the leading trainer here (Bob Diodoro) and the pair race uncoupled. This son of "Bernardini" cost $950,000 and began his career in the barn of Todd Pletcher. Colt won a pair of stakes this past summer in western Canada including the rich "Canadian Derby"(G3) at Northlands Park on Aug. 16. Freshened up since an even effort in a grass stakes in early Nov. he's worked five times since and is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Twelve Tribes) (9-5) - The second of the Diodoro runners, he's won three straight on the grass since being claimed for $20K on Sept. 1 at Canterbury Park. All four career wins have come on the turf but he's been training sharply on the local dirt for the past seven weeks. Must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #7 (This Cat's Awesome) (6-1) - He's won four in a row at this meet facing weaker and is in career best shape. Calif. bred is moving way up in class but fits on figures and last out was an easy winner going a mile in his first ever going around two-turns. Has a shot at a square price.