Top pick: #3 (SHOT ROCK) (8-5) - Home-bred set a pressured pace and tired to finish 3rd of 11, beaten just over three lengths racing for twice this claiming tag Nov 17. Race was his first in 7 weeks and trainer Bruce Levine will drop his price in half this afternoon. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #9 (Mr. Lit) (7-2) - Grey colt debuted in the same Nov 17 contest that "Shot Rock" exits and he had a very wide trip while racing evenly. Takes the same price drop as that rival, has lasix added, and trainer Rick Dutrow is deadly 2nd time out (36%). Win candidate.
3rd pick: #7 (Burning Flame) (8-1) - Freshened up since late October, he showed good speed facing tougher going longer on the grass that day. Trainer Gary Contessa moves him to the dirt and drops him into a claimer for the first time. Price play.