Top pick: #2 (SIMPLE LOVE) (6-1) - Lightly-raced filly has the best early speed and is racing second off a 2 1/2 month break. She rushed to the lead from an outside post in his return and held until the last 1/16th of a mile. She tired to finish fourth and can take this with a bit of improvement.
2nd pick: #4 (Madaket Millie) (7-2) - From the barn of Chad Brown, she's dropping in class in her second start back from a two month freshening. In her return start she was basically eliminated at the break. Stalker has worked three times since and is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #3 (Al's Gals) (4-1) - Strong finisher enters in shape and off a rallying third-place finish here at this level and distance Jan. 30. Her entire career has been spent on the turf 10-3-2-2 and she would love a fast/and or contested pace to develop.
4th pick: #5 (Stately Defence) (8-1) - Filly has been much improved since coming back from a 7-week freshening in early November. Four-year-old was an easy winner here for a $20K tag on Jan. 22. It was a career best and she was claimed that afternoon by trainer Kate O'Connell. A factor if she holds her form.