Top pick: #2 (MUCH STRONGER) (9-5) - One of two entered by the leading trainer here (Dave Jacobson), and they give him a very strong hand in this contest. This colt has won six of 16 on the dirt, has the best early speed, and enters off a sharp win here in a high-end starter-allowance just 10 days ago.
2nd pick: #4 (Start Jumping) (5-2) - The second of the Jacobson pair, he rallied to finish third of four racing here at this level going 5.5-furlongs on Jan. 5th. The extra 1/16th he travels today is a plus, and gelding has gone 6-1-2-2 at this distance in the past.
3rd pick: #6 (Gombey Dancer) (5-1) - Unraced since late August at Saratoga, well-bred colt has a new trainer (George Weaver), 20% with new arrivals, and this son of "Dixie Union" is working nicely for his return.