Top pick: #10 (KING KITTEN) - Colt has been competitive on turf, dirt, and "poly" in his five race career and has shown good speed in most. Drops in half off a two-month layoff and he'll shorten-up in distance. Trainer Wesley Eard names Elvis Trujillo and they win at a 29% rate when teamed-up.
2nd pick: #4 (Cuvee's Caress) - Heavily bet in his debut on Nov. 22 at Churchill colt showed good in clearing, responded when challenged, and fougth it out all the way to check in second, beaten a length. Training well since coming to Florida and he's in the top barn of Ken McPeek. He'd be no surprise.
3rd pick: #13 (Magic Lion) - He ran just seven days ago and did so at a mile facing maiden special weights. Drops into a claimer for the first time, cuts-back in distance, runs second back off almost a two-month break and does so with blinkers on. Contender from the Zito barn needs a scratch to run.
4th pick: #5 (Asset) - Canadian shipper finished fifth, beaten just a length in a large field (12) when debuting on the Woodbine "poly" on Nov. 19. In a good barn (Mark Frostad) and colt has a nice drill on the Palm Meadows dirt on Dec. 30.