Top pick: #2 (STEEL BLUE) - He's a dirt specialist (3-for-6)and comes into this having won two of his last three starts (both on the dirt) on the Fair circuit and in his lone defeat he missed by a length at Santa Rosa in a turf contest. Has a flexible style, the rail is his for the taking, and gelding is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #5 (Hiatus) - Strong finisher goes turf-to-dirt after a strong series of four races at Del Mar where he ran well on both the "poly" and the grass. Grey gelding finished second this past winter in a dirt race at santa Anita and is a late threat in this spot.
3rd pick: #1 (Royal Import) - Runs first off a re-claim by trainer Jeff Bonde after losing him for one race. Barn paid "up" for him by $4000, so they must like him. English import is nicely spotted in this starter-allowance and would benefit by a fast/and or contested pace.