Top pick: #8 (POP POP'S SMYLE) - She had less than a perfect trip when debuting here on Dec. 30. Filly was near the rail in a large field (10), was bimped "lightly" at the start, and did well to finish fourth. Working fine since and she can take this with normal second out improvement.
2nd pick: #4 (Catalina Island) - She also had some trafic issues in the same contest as the top pick and after showing some speed daughter of "Belong to Me" tired during the stretch run. Blinkers go on and she'll be making back to back starts for the first time this afternoon.
3rd pick: #5 (Sunny Desert) - Claimed in early Dec. by trainer John Parisella for $35K, she rallied to finish second after breaking from a tough outside post Jan. 13 racing for $50K. Barn brings her back quickly and has her face special weights in this spot.