Top pick: #2 (SUNNY PUZZLE) (5-2) - He's one of two entered by leading trainer Dave Jacobson, and the pair race uncoupled. Colt was purchased privately soon after a Jan. 10th race at the Fair Grounds. Well bred, barn drops him into a claimer, moves him from turf to dirt, shortens him up in distance, and adds blinkers.
2nd pick: #4 (Marvino) (4-1) - He lost all chance in his local debut after stumbling at the start of than mile contest on Feb. 7th. It was his first here after shipping from Gulfstream and first for trainer Carlos Martin. Barn had him gelded the very next day. They drop him in class, shorten him up, and remove his blinkers. A bullet 3-furlong work on Feb. 19th signals a big effort is coming. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Subcontractor) (6-1) - The second of the Jacobson pair, he ran evenly here when debuting against slightly tougher Jan. 18th. He caught a sloppy surface that afternoon, and that very often spells doom for a first-time-starter. He drops a bit for this, and it's noted that Irad Ortiz, Jr. stays aboard.
4th pick: #8 (Astron) (5-1) - Lightly raced gelding finished second here in the same last race that 'Subcontractor' exits. Nice effort, and he's in the hottest barn on the ground (Gary Gullo). However, he draws outside of the other speed types and needs to avoid a wide trip.
5th pick: #9 (Mizner Park) (8-1) - Lightly raced, he's dropping back down off a trouble trip here for a $75K tag on Feb. 5th. He tired that day after being bumped at the break in his first off a Gary Contessa claim. Barn drops him under the purchase price and he must be left in the mix.