Top pick: #7 (FLEURDEFORTYFOUR) (3-1) - Very speedy colt ships from the midwest where he went 3-for-8 after leaving Louisiana in March. 3-year-old broke his maiden here at that time and is working fast at the Fair Grounds for the Tom Amoss barn. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #8 (Hit the Road Lee) (12-1) - Longshot moves way up in class after a career best win here at this trip Nov. 3 when racing for a $10K tag. Claimed that day by Keith Bourgeois, he's given him almost six weeks to recover and this stalker can factor at a square price.
3rd pick: #4 (Pirate Island) (2-1) - Grey gelding loves this surface (8-3-2-0) and moves down in class after tiring last out in the $150K "Delta Mile". He ran second at this condition in his previous effort and must be left in the mix.