Top pick: #11 (CONSTANTINE) (5-2) - Well-bred gelding finished with interest when checking in fourth here for a $30K tag on Dec. 7. It was his first in two months and first off a private sale to trainer Dave Jacobson. Formerly in the barn of Bob Baffert, 3-year-old by "Roman Ruler" drops way down for this assignment and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Scully) (10-1) - Longshot is another that's well bred and it's a plus to see him stringing starts together following his return from a 19-month layoff in Nov. His last wasn't bad and he's shortening up in distance and racing with blinkers on.
3rd pick: #2 (Oliver Rush) (6-1) - Florida invader has some early speed and is racing off a trainer change to Michelle Nevin (23% with new arrivals). He's going off almost a two month break, fits well with these, and is dropping to a new low.
4th pick: #5 (Prince Raja) (8-1) - Long time maiden rallied to finish third here at this tag and trip on Nov. 27. Race was run in slow time and the "figure" earned was light. Believe a minor award is his ceiling.