Top pick: #4 (SMOOTH DADDY) (3-1) - Stakes-placed colt was competitive in both starts at Gulfstream over the winter months. Speed/stalker just missed in his only previous local grass start and on this tight-turned turf course his inside post is a big plus. Gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #1 (Barrel of Love) (2-1) - Veteran turf performer has gone 38-6-8-6 on the grass during his long career. Gulfstream shipper rallied to finish second there facing weaker Feb 16. Freshened up for the past two months this 8-year-old is an obvious win candidate from the Chad Brown barn.
3rd pick: #7 (Blacktype) (5-2) - French import has been on the sidelines since rallying to finish third here at this level Nov 10. He spent the winter in Florida without starting and races off the layoff as a new gelding. Trainer Chris clement wins at a 24% rate off long absences and is also adding blinkers for this attempt.
4th pick: #6 (Heiko) (20-1) - The probable front runner, he's racing first off a Naipaul Chatterpaul claim (17%). Speedy sort is moving back to turf and is racing second off an 80-day break. Can be dangerous at a big price if left alone in the first half-mile.