Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #9 (END PLAY) (12-1) - Longshot is dropping in class following a pair of even effort on this course facing tougher. He hasn't had the best of trips in either and last out had a very tough outside post. There's a lot of potential pace on view and he has a good chance to run them down at a big price.
2nd pick: #4 (Moegan Avenue) (7-2) - He set a quick and pressured pace and held gamely to finish third here when facing $50K foes at this distance on the grass Jan 27. It was his first race in two months and first on the turf. Gelding by 'Uncle Mo' has worked well since and John Velazquez stays aboard.
3rd pick: #2 (Fast Fire) (9-2) - Home bred by 'War Chant' was competitive in all three starts last fall. Speed/stalker is working steadily for his first since Oct 31 and is dropping into a claimer for the first time.
4th pick: #8 (Cuba Libre) (4-1) - One of two making their debuts, colt by 'Medaglia d'Oro' cost $250K and runs first out for a $75K tag. In the top barn of Chad Brown, he's won with 18% of his first-time starters over the past 14 months.
5th pick: #5 (Irish Major) (5-1) - Gelding has raced since a good effort when debuting here Dec 31 facing tougher. He returns with a new trainer (George Weaver) who drops him in class and has leading rider Javier Castellano aboard.