Top pick: #12 (LIFE ON RIVIERA) (4-1) - Gelding has been bet down to favoritism in both starts facing tougher. He finished a close up third in his debut at Los Alamitos then tired badly last out following a bobbling break. The leading trainer at this meet (Pete Miller) drops him way down in class and has him racing on a "poly" surface for the first time.
2nd pick: #4 (Donji) (15-1) - Price play is lightly-raced and has some early speed. Gelding by "Big Brown" finished second at this tag and trip at Santa Anita Oct. 24 then tired here going a mile Nov. 15. Has a shot at long odds.
3rd pick: #3 (Jet Trick) (6-1) - He rallied while wide to finish fourth here at this level Nov. 14. Home bred had a tough outside post, draws better, and he has Bejarano aboard for the first time.
4th pick: #9 (Always Never) (6-1) - Colt was eliminated at the break when debuting facing tougher at Santa Anita on Oct. 20. Trainer Mike Puype (who's having a great meet) has him working fast, moves him from dirt to "poly", and drops him way down.
5th pick: #10 (Increase) (7-2) - No-speed type enters off a career best when he rallied to just miss here going a mile for a $40K tag on Nov. 15. He's dropping slightly and is cutting back in distance. The faster the pace, the better his chances.