Top pick: #4 (THE BIEN'S GIFT) - Gelding rallied while wide to finish fourth of seven, beaten just two lengths racing at this level at Santa Anita Oct. 26. Race was his first in two months and he clearly loves this surface (3-2-1-0). 3-year-old has back class and is set up nicely for a winning effort by trainer Dean Peterson.
2nd pick: #5 (Mr Why Why ) - The probable favorite, he missed by a neck in the same Oct. 26 race as "Bien." Sharp try came second off a Mike Pender claim and a subsequent 7 week freshening and Texas-bred gelding is an obvious win candidate.