Top pick: #7 (BIG LUTE) (6-5) - The probable favorite, he has the best early speed of this group. Leading trainer Dave Jacobson has freshened him up for two months and drops him down to a new low in price. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #9 (Shot to Win) (7-2) - Speedy sort isn't as quick from the gate as "Lute" so that will put him in a stalking spot just off that rival. Fits and has a solid shot if the top pick gets tired in the final 1/16th.
3rd pick: #3 (Private Irving A) (8-1) - He was a winner at this tag Nov. 19 as he cleared the 2l condition. He came right back with a solid second-place finish at this level in early Dec. In shape and must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #1 (Can't Catch Me Now) (15-1) - Longshot has the rail and enters off a trio of competitive efforts at this level. He was only 1 1/2 lengths back of "Irving" in early Dec. and came right back to finish second in his latest. One-run type has the rail and can impact at a big price.