Top pick: #8 (SHONE) - Capable of a very big effort when he's ready to roll. He returns today off a pair of dull races that led to the 2 1/2 month layoff that he returns from today. Last two works are solid and he's never raced this low. Veteran has won "off the bench" in the past and this distance is his speciality (8-2-1-3). Use equally with the second pick.
2nd pick: #2 (Next Adventure) - One of a pair of runners from trainer Mike Maker and they'll race un-coupled. Claimed two back and raced only once for his new connections, he's been freshened-up for the past two months. Training superbly for a deadly trainer off a rest (27%). I believe he's the equal of the top pick.
3rd pick: #7 (Raymundo) - He finished second against cheaper, on this surface and at this distance on Jan. 9. Race came first off a Bill White claim and this four-year-old is in career-best shape at present. He loves this distance (4-2-2-0).