Top pick: #1 (MSHAWISH) (7-2) - He's been all over the world in his 16 race career and has gone 15-5-2-2 on the grass. In great shape at present, he has the rail, a stalking style, and has won a pair of stakes on this course in his last two starts. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Imagining) (4-1) - Veteran has won 8 of 20 lifetime starts (all on the grass) and has banked just over $1,000,000. He has a speed/stalking style and finished second a year ago in this stakes. Training well at Payson Park, he should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #9 (Golden Rifle) (20-1) - Longshot has excellent early speed and has gone 10-4-4-1 on the grass facing weaker. He likes this course 5-1-2-1 and can be involved from the start at a big price.
4th pick: #7 (Slumber) (4-1) - English import is racing second off a 100 day layoff and ran evenly here Dec. 27 in the G3 "William McNight" Hdcp. Strong finisher would love a fast and/or contested pace to develop to help his style out.
5th pick: #6 (War Correspondent) (12-1) - Well bred and very lightly raced, he's won two of three on the grass and has more early speed than most. With only six lifetime starts, this 5-year-old by 'War Front" still has room for upside.