Top pick: #6 (GRIDIRON GREAT) (5-2) - Like several entered, he's been running well on the grass and will be switching to the main-track. Stalker is in a good barn (Rudy Rodriguez) and he's freshened him up for two months. Three-year-old takes a sizeable drop in price and cuts back a furlong for this attempt.
2nd pick: #5 (Mi Hijo) (2-1) - West Coast shipper raced evenly in NYRA debut here facing tougher Nov. 7, a race won by his uncoupled barn-mate. The probable favorite, trainer Dave Jacobson drops him to a new low and shortens him up a furlong. Strong win candidate, and view him as the equal of "Gridiron."
3rd pick: #3 (Political Farce) (3-1) - Grey gelding ran very poorly as the favorite on Oct. 6 at Monmouth in his first off a seven week break and a trainer change to Bruce Levine. Three-year-old had been competitive several times facing tougher earlier in the year and the rail is his for the taking at the break.
4th pick: #9 (Papa Doc) (8-1) - "Doc" continues to flash early speed and tire down the stretch. He takes a big drop in price, switches from turf to dirt, and cuts back in distance. Can impact at a nice price in this afternoon's finale.