Top pick: #5 (VONA) (2-1) - Colt was run down in the final furlong after setting a pressured pace racing here at this level and distance on Dec. 31st. He's worked fast since, and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Profluent) (7-2) - Son of the rising sire "Purim" chased and tired late when debuting in late Oct. at Laurel. Freshened up for the past three months, he has a new trainer (Tony Dutrow), and colt has been working fast at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland.
3rd pick: #3 (American Progress) (5-2) - Son of "Mr Greeley" debuted in the same Dec. 21st local contest that saw "Vona" finish second. This colt had a troubled break and a wide trip while only 1 1/2 back of that rival at the finish. He was working fast for his initial outing, and has a fine half-mile breeze at Belmont on Jan. 17th. Dangerous with a "clean" getaway.
4th pick: #1 (Metro Dreamer) (5-1) - He raced evenly in the same race as both "Vona" & "Progress," and it wouldn't take much improvement for him to be much more competitive this afternoon.