Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #7 (WORDMAN) (5-2) - Well backed when debuting here Jan. 30, he rallied to finish 3rd of eight, missing by 2.5 lengths racing here at this distance for a $32K price tag. From the Pletcher barn (26 of 115, 24%, 2nd time out since Jan. 1 of 2019), I give this $200K colt by 'Bodemeister' a slight edge.
2nd pick: #4 (Palace Kid) (3-1) - Speedy sort finished a pace-pressing 3rd following a troubled break here at this tag and trip Feb. 26. Colt runs first off a Dave Fawkes claim, and he's adding blinkers for this attempt. A win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Nextstop Pokipc) (4-1) - He's had problems at the start in his last pair that left him with too much ground to make up. He did finish fast to miss by two lengths at this level and distance Feb. 5 and has worked fast since while leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. stays aboard. In the mix.