Top pick: #5 (THUNDERING GALE) (3-1) - New York shipper enters in top shape and has a solid year going 8-2-2-2. From a top barn (Chad Brown), the level and distance are fine and sophomore is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (Venus de Milo) (6-1) - She's one of two entered by trainer Mike Maker and the pair race uncoupled. Speed/stalker just missed at this level at Churchill Downs on Nov 12 and has gone 4-1-2-1 since being claimed by Maker in late May. Contender.
3rd pick: #10 (Adventurine) (7-2) - Lightly raced filly is from the Pletcher barn and enters off a close up 3rd place finish facing allowance foes on Nov 23. It was a solid effort and came off an eight month layoff. Barn brings her back quickly and has her nicely spotted. Win candidate.
4th pick: #7 (Sawyer) (5-1) - Hard hitting filly has gone 10-3-3-3 on the turf and has a sharp local record 4-1-3-0. Freshened up since Nov 1st, a bullet half-mile breeze on Dec 13 indicates she'll be sharp for her return.
5th pick: #3 (Jester and Me) (10-1) - The second of the Maker fillies, she has some talent and fits on "figures" if she brings her best. She's a bit on the unreliable side but can't be eliminated.