Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (TRADING VOLUME) (5-2) - Home bred daughter of 'Arch' is one of two making their debuts in this small field. From trainer Chad Brown (19% first out), she's been in steady training on the deep surface at the Payson Park Center, and enters of a bullet half-mile breeze there, the best of 30 horses at that distance the morning of Jan. 6.
2nd pick: #6 (Raging Town) (3-1) - Competitive in all four starts, she's been on the sidelines since late February. She's gone 3-0-1-2 in dirt sprints and was only beaten 1.5 lengths here when last in action. Training steadily at the Palm Meadows Center, Jose Ortiz is aboard for this ride. From a small sample during 2017, he won with three of seven (43%) when riding for trainer Barclay Tagg.
3rd pick: #2 (First Mistress) (2-1) - Florida bred was away slowly, but recovered quickly to finish 2nd when debuting here at this level going six furlongs Sept. 1. Bet down to 5-2 that afternoon, she's working above average for her return here, and an under-rated barn (Joe Joseph, Jr.) adds lasix. She must be left in the mix.