Top pick: #3 (JUNIOR OFFICER) (4-1) - Race will have a very heavy favorite in No. 8 "Towering Moon" and this gelding has the best shot at a possible upset. Claimed two back by Rudy Rodriguez for $15K, he finished a troubled fourth sprinting at this level a week ago in his first for the new bar. They bring him back quickly, stretch him out, and he'll be closing fast.
2nd pick: #8 (Towering Moon) (4-5) - It would have bee easy to make him the top pick as he's run well in all three starts and is working fast, presumably with the blinkers on that he wears in "live" action for the first time. Stalker is an obvious must use and would be no surprise.
3rd pick: #2 (Writingonthewall) (5-1) - Claimed two back by gary Gullo for $16k, veteran raced evenly in a sprint facing a solid field of older sprinters racing for a $20K tag nine days ago. Stretches back out, has a fine post, and his record on this surface stands at (9-1-5-1).
5th pick: #1 (Jet Set Cat) (10-1) - Has the rail, a bit of speed, and comes off a career best when just missing here at this distance facing $15K "open" claimers on Dec. 31. Don't just dismiss as the horse that beat him last out has a lot of back class.