Top pick: #1 (INVOCATION) - Freshened-up for almost two months, he's the only member of this field with positive experience at this 9-furlong trip. Son of "Pulpit" has been competitive in three of his four starts, and ran second at this distance at Aqueduct on Nov. 9. Working well at Palm Meadows, he has the rail, and races with blinkerrs added.
2nd pick: #4 (Moon Traveler) - Woodbine invader is in a great barn (Mark Casse) and rallied to finish second on the synthetic coures there a month ago. Son of "Malibu Moon" has a near bullet 1/2 mile work at Palm Meadows that suggests the dirt course will be fine with him.
3rd pick: #6 (Big Screen) - He missed by a nose here at this level going 8.5 furlongs on Dec. 4 and has come-back with a pair of fast works since. Has good early speed and is a win candidate.
4th pick: #11 (Battle Hardened) - He improved considerably when he was sent around two-turns by the Eddie Kenneally barn as he chased the pace and held down the place spot at Churchill in late Nov. Has a bullet work 8 days ago at Palm Meadows.