Top pick: #3 (PHILOMENE) (6-1) - Daughter of "Successful Appeal" makes her debut off a series of fine local drills, and meets a rather ordinary group at this special weight level. The a.m. works indicate that plenty of speed is present, and I like the fact Joe Bravo takes the ride.
2nd pick: #2 (Discreetly Elusive) (2-1) - She had a nice spot to strike from when debuting here Nov. 30th, but could not mount the necessary rally when asked by her rider. Trainer Todd Pletcher (34% second time out) has worked her three times for this and replaces Alan Garcia with J.J. Castellano (29% for Pletcher).
3rd pick: #5 (Speedy Girl) (8-1) - She went off at 40-1 when debuting at Calder on Nov. 15th, and rallied to finish a distant second despite having some serious traffic issues during the running. Trainer Mario Morales has given her almost eight weeks to recover, and filly had a near bullet half-mile gate breeze on Dec. 14th.
4th pick: #7 (Princess Marcela) (9-5) - No speed type rallied into a quick pace to finish second of seven, beaten about a length here a month ago. That earned her the highest speed "fig" any of these has run. And she's a threat, but at a short price.