Top pick: #9 (SWIFT TAYLOR) (3-1) - Filly takes the bog drop into maiden claimers for the first time and last our ran evenly while very wide facing much tougher on Nov 30. She's worked three times since and had an excellent half-mile breeze at Belmont on Christmas Eve.
2nd pick: #8 (Azasecret) (2-1) - The probable favorite, she has the best early speed and has gone (5-0-2-2) racing on conventional dirt. In shape, in a winning barn (Jimmy Jerkens), and she'll be tough on the front end.
3rd pick: #5 (Nine Cracks) (7-2) - She finished 3rd here in a pretty weak field on Dec 2nd, but it was an encouraging effort and came off a private trainer change to Dom Galluscio. Working well since and must be left in the mix.