Top pick: #3 (READY FOR RYE) (9-2) - He impressed in a pair of starts as a 2-year-old, including an easy maiden win Oct. 11 at Belmont Park going 7-furlongs. Sent in for an 80-day break at that time, trainer Tom Albertrani had him make his 3-year-old debut here on Jan. 3 in the 6-furlong 'Spectacular Bid' stakes. Colt rated while wide, bid to the lead turning for home, then was out finished by the swift "Barbados." Working steadily for this, he has a solid shot at upsetting the presumed heavy favorite, #1 "Daredevil."
2nd pick: #1 (Daredevil) (6-5) - The probable heavy favorite, he's been freshened up since finishing far back in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. He had a tough outside post and was forced into an extremely wide trip before tiring. He won his first two starts at Belmont, including the G1 "Champagne" Oct. 4. Training bullets at Palm Meadows for his return, he'll need to beat his best as he gives away a recency edge to the other selections.
3rd pick: #7 (X Y Jet) (5-1) - Very consistent grey gelding enters off a narrow loss here at this trip in the G3 "Hutcheson" stakes Jan. 24. Speed/stalker has gone 8-1-5-1 overall and is 5-0-4-1 at Gulfstream. In shape, draws a great outside post at this distance, and must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #5 (Souper Colossal) (4-1) - He's 4 for 5 with his only loss coming in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Speed/stalker enters off a stakes win here Feb. 7 going 5-furlongs on the grass. Can't eliminate this consistent colt by "War Front."