Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #9 (HELLBENDER) (9-5) - Competitive in all three starts, he's switching back to the dirt following a pair of 2nd place finishes going 8.5 furlongs on the grass. $205K purchase missed by a 'nose' here last out, and he did finish a pace-setting 3rd in his only previous start on the dirt. Colt will be tough to beat today.
2nd pick: #5 (Too Early) (9-2) - A home bred son of 'Distorted Humor,' he's raced evenly in both starts on the grass while checking in behind 'Hellbender' in each. On the dirt for the first time, trainer Linda Rice is adding blinkers, 18 of 49 (37%) with that move since Jan. 1 of 2018.
3rd pick: #4 (Go Rudy Go) (8-1) - He has the best early speed and is stretching out in distance for the first time. The colt has been tiring in his sprints, but may get an easy early lead today and take them a long ways at a square price.
4th pick: #6 (Wild Banker) (6-1) - He finished 3rd here at this level and distance at odds of 71-1 Dec. 1 and earned by far a career best figure. Owned/bred/trained by Mike Dini, this gelding may get another slice today with a repeat of his latest.