Top pick: #1 (FROSTED) (3-1) - Grey son of "Tapit" has been sharp I all four starts and has been training sharply at Palm Meadows for his first since Nov. 29. Colt finished second that day at Aqueduct in the G2 "Remsen." He was only beaten a 1/2 length after breaking from the 13 post on a day when the inside was the place to be. Looks ready to roll.
2nd pick: #8 (Upstart) (5-2) - The morning line favorite, he's gone 4-2-1-1 to date. He finished a respectable third at Santa Anita Nov. 1 in the "Breeders' Cup Juvenile" (G1). Working fast and this New York bred is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #4 (Bluegrass Singer) (4-1) - Very fast from the gate, this three-time winner enters off an easy gate-to-wire win here in a $100K stakes going a one-turn mile on Jan. 3. He's trying a two turn distance on the dirt for the first time and his gate speed and recency edge give him a solid chance.
4th pick: #6 (First Down) (12-1) - Lightly-raced Darley home bred won his debut, then tired to finish fourth in a G2 stakes going a mile. Training fine, Lasix is added, but believe a minor award is his ceiling at this point. May develop into a good one later on.