Top pick: #6 (COST AFFECTIVE) (8-5) - The morning line favorite, he just missed here in his first at this tag and colt has been competitive against tougher fields than this in the past. Speed/stalker comes off a career best figure and has worked fast since. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (My Son Ernie) (5-2) - Lightly-raced gelding ships in from Pimlico where he tired after setting a pressured pace. Trainer Tony Dutrow adds blinkers (31%), drops him into a claimer (22%), and he has John Velazquez aboard. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #1 (Yankee Dime) (8-1) - He's one of two entered by the red hot barn of Nick Zito and the pair race uncoupled. Unseen since early November, gelding is working fast, draws the rail, and drops in class for his return.