Top pick: #4 (BORDER PLAY) (2-1) - Asmussen home-bred showed good early speed in his debut and then closed to finish second last out. Runs were 2 1/2 months apart and the barn has him making back-to-back starts for the first time. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Blushing Tough) (8-1) - Gelding took some money in his debut and raced wide and evenly here at this level and distance Nov. 15. He has a bullet half-mile breeze (best of 35) from the gate on Dec. 7 and can factor at a square price.
3rd pick: #6 (Genuine Gent) (8-1) - Debuting colt is well-bred and has some impressive works on view, including a bullet half-mile breeze (best of 63) here on the morning of Dec. 1. Capable barn sends him out and he must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #9 (Country Saint) (5-1) - Fine debut here Dec. 6 saw him race wide and evenly while finishing up fifth of 10, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. Barn is having a tough year, but this gelding can grab a share if he repeats his debut "fig."