Top pick: #7 (MIDNIGHT BOUNTY) (6-1) - Daughter of "Midnight Lute" has been freshened up since Nov. 22 when she tired after showing fine early speed facing Special Weights. Trainer Terri Pompay drops her into a claimer for the first time and this filly had a trio of good local drills in Dec. She has a shot at a square price.
2nd pick: #10 (Meetmeforasmoke) (10-1) - Home bred by "Smoke Glacken" has shown good early speed in a pair of starts facing tougher. Former jockey Dave Kassen drops her in class and will add blinkers. A sharp local half-mile breeze Dec. 24 indicates a sharp effort is coming.
3rd pick: #4 (Key d'Oro) (15-1) - She raced evenly while never involved when debuting here Dec. 14. Daughter of "Medaglia d"Oro" was almost three back of "Meetmeforasmoke" that afternoon and is taking the same drop and is also getting blinkers on. Don't overlook at a big price.
4th pick: #8 (Emerald Citadelle) (9-2) - New York bred chased and held gamely to finish a close up third when debuting for a $25K tag Nov. 17. She was almost 60-1 that afternoon and will be one of the choices today despite moving up in class.
5th pick: #5 (Everythingisasum) (7-2) - Experienced sort has gone 4-0-1-1 since dropping to this level. One-run type is a threat but needs to do better in the last 1/4 mile.