Top pick: #6 (HONEST JOHNNY) (8-5) - After breaking slowly in his debut last July at Belmont, this gelding raced evenly in his next four starts when facing tougher. On the sidelines since Oct. 7, trainer Linda Rice drops him to a new low, and her main rider for many years (Cornelio Velasquez) is aboard. This 4-year-old's last pair of works indicate he's ready off the break.
2nd pick: #4 (Suilleabhain) (2-1) - Speedy sort was scratched out of a two-turn grass race yesterday by trainer Gary Sciacca to await this spot. Gelding has finished second in two of his last three starts and both of those came at this $16K tag. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Tish's Bad Boy) (5-1) - He's lightly raced, improving, and drops to a new low in his third back from a five month layoff. If he has talent, this is the day he shows it.
4th pick: #7 (Say Lancelot) (15-1) - Longshot isn't a serious win candidate, but he has some late kick and could grab a minor award at a big price.