Top pick: #1 (NIGHT BADGER) - Colt raced evenly facing "open" special weight company when debuting at Santa Anita on April 21st. Under-rated barn (Bruce Headley) has worked him twice, will switch him from dirt to "poly", and has him face fellow Cal-breds tonight. Home-bred has the rail and Headley wins at a 29% clip second time out.
2nd pick: #2 (D'Obsesion) - He's run well in both starts and in his latest he set the pace before tiring in the $300K Snow Chief Stakes April 28th. Working fast since, trainer Mike Pender will drop him in class and shorten him up in distance.
3rd pick: #4 (Sizzlin Joe) - The probable favorite, he rallied to finish second when debuting here at this level in a stakes for maidens April 28th. Trainer Marty Jones (21% 2nd time out) has worked him twice since and moves him dow a bit.