Top pick: #11 (KNOWN GAMBLER) - Improving gelding needs a scratch to compete, but it's certainly possible as trainer Gary Contessa has another entered that he could scratch. This three-year-old has a nice race over this surface Dec. 16 and can win this with a repeat of that effort.
2nd pick: #6 (My Tapit) - Lightly raced, he's been going evenly facing tougher and he'll drop down to this tag for the first time. Looks like a win candidate at a nice price.
3rd pick: #4 (Digital Joe) - The second of the Contessa runners he has some early speed and that's what usually wins these maiden-claiming contests on this surface. Big threat.
4th pick: #9 (Silver Birch) - Another who's lightly raced and showing some improvement. Most of his good races are on the turf, but he's working nicely on this surface.