Top pick: #7 (BAATESH) - $400K colt is offered for sale this afternoon for the first time and the asking price is $35K today, so they're basically giving him away. Freshened up for the past 3 months, he's working nicely for this and he's shown good speed in most of his starts facing tougher. Spotted to win and that's what he should do against this field.
2nd pick: #3 (Lloydobler) - Races third back off a six month break and gelding by "Smarty Jones" will drop from a maiden special down to $35K for this attempt. Three-year-old has good early speed and should offer a nice price in this contest.
3rd pick: #4 (Iguazu) - Lightly raced three-year-old finished second at this level here Dec. 9, in his first start back off a 12 1/2 month layoff. Trainer Bruce Brown brings him back quickly for this attempt and he has a nice maintenance drill Christmas Eve. Obvious contender if he repeats his recent effort.