Top pick: #6 (COMMANDANTE) (6-1) - Gelding has improved tremendously since switching to the barn of Todd Pletcher in Sept. Three-year-old has gone 4-2-1-1 since then and was a sharp winner here on the main-track going 7-furlongs in a $125K stakes on Nov. 23. That was a career best and this speed/stalker has a solid shot at upsetting the heavy favorite #8 "Saratoga Snacks."
2nd pick: #8 (Saratoga Snacks) (4-5) - The probable heavy favorite, he raced evenly after a "stumbling" start in the G1 "Cigar Mile" facing a tough field of "open" company and moves back in with fellow state-breds this afternoon. He's 10-7-1-2 doing so and won this stakes a year ago. Working fast and an obvious win candidate, but will be a short price.
3rd pick: #4 (Zetterholm) (15-1) - Longshot is racing back into shape following a pair of layoffs and it's nice to see this once promising gelding stringing starts together. Can impact at a big price with his best.
4th pick: #2 (West Hills Giant) (8-1) - He's in very good shape at present and last out rallied to finish second to "Comandante" in a 7-furlong stakes Nov. 23. That marked a career best and he's run well on this surface in the past. Working fast and must be left in the mix.