Top pick: #4 (HEARTY CONGRATS) (2-1) - Geldeing comes off a career best when he was an easy maiden winner on this course when racing for a $16K tag. It was the first time he broke without a problem and he was claimed that day by the high-energy barn of Kirk Ziadie (48% fresh off the claim). Working nicely and he's the top selection.
2nd pick: #1 (He's Got Talent) (3-1) - Lightly-raced gelding won his debut in early May at Churchill, then raced evenly and wide in a sprint stakes on the Colonial Downs turf on July 13th. On the sidelines since then, he's working fine, breaks from the rail, and you know that he can run well fresh.
3rd pick: #3 (Storm Haboob) (4-1) - He rallied following a slow start to break his maiden here on Dec. 29 racing for a $12.5K tag. Claimed that day by Lou Duco, he brings him back quickly and bumps his tag up to $20,000.
4th pick: #7 (High Roll) (5-1) - Home-bred raced evenly here facing tougher on Dec. 20 in his first since Sept. 7 and first on real dirt. Drops, blinkers go on, and he's from a winning barn (Larry Rivelli).