Top pick: #7 (SENSO) (7-2) - Filly is cutting back in distance off a sub-par effort at this level just six days ago. Filly had finished second in three straight prior to that and was beaten a "head" at this trip on Dec. 13. The leading rider on the NYRA circuit in 2014 (Irad Ortiz Jr.) is back aboard after a one race absence.
2nd pick: #2 (Peach Lake) (5-2) - Grey filly has finished second in four of her last five with each coming at or around this level. Stalker is capable sprinting and is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #4 (Hometocarroweel) (5-1) - Lightly-raced daughter of "Big Brown" chased and tired here when facing weaker in the mud on Dec. 7. It was her first back off a four month break and her trainer (Michelle Nevin) wins at a 23% rate second back off of lengthy breaks.
4th pick: #6 (Agate) (6-1) - She tired facing tougher on Dec. 14 in her first back from a 6 1/2 month layoff. Grey daughter of "Holy Bull" had some promise when she first came to the races but after the long layoff her connections drop her to the local bottom for this attempt.