Top pick: #2 (BOLD RUNNER) (10-1) - Price play has early speed, is moving from turf to dirt and stretching back out in distance. Gelding breaks from the rail and has a solid shot at long odds.
2nd pick: #3 (Captain Keon) (6-1) - The main speed, he enters off a career best when he set a pressured pace and held until the last furlong when he weakened to check in fourth. Drops back down, goes turf to dirt, and he should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #10 (Identity Crisis) (3-1) - The probable favorite, he's been freshened up since Oct. 12 when he rallied to finish second going a mile for a $25K tag at Belmont. No-speed type would love a fast and/or contested pace to develop.
4th pick: #4 (Mambo At the Gym) (7-2) - Strong finisher has the best form and "figures" but they've all been earned on the turf. If he takes to the main track the rest are in trouble.
5th pick: #5 (Special Ops) (12-1) - Very lightly raced gelding by "Big Brown" is dropping in class and making back-to-back starts for the first time. Working well and Irad Ortiz Jr is back on the re-ride.