Top pick: #4 (JACKSON BEND) (5-1) - Old timer has banked almost $1.8M and he enters this off a strong second-place finish here in a $100K stakes going 7-furlongs on Dec. 8. Race went in fast time and he's been training nicely since. Seven-year-old is capable at this mile trip (7-1-2-1) and this multiple stakes winner gets a slight edge in a competitive event.
2nd pick: #8 (Goodtimehadbyall) (8-1) - Gelding was a visually impressive winner of a $107K stakes here going 7-furlongs on Dec. 7. One-run type completed the distance in a snappy 1:22 and has a fine record at this mile distance (8-2-1-4). Six-year-old has a pair of blazing works since that score and is a threat at a nice price.
3rd pick: #2 (Csaba) (3-1) - Eleven-time winner is back to defend his win in the 2013 running of the G3 stakes. Speed/stalker went 10-4-2-1 last year, and has a fine local record of 6-2-2-0. In shape and this 5-year-old son of "Kitten's Joy" is 3-for-5 at this distance.
4th pick: #9 (Uncaptured) (8-1) - He's spent his career switching back and forth from dirt to "poly" courses and has gone 7-3-1-2 when running on conventional soil. One-run type fits, draws a good post, and can factor at long odds.