Top pick: #1 (HOCKLEY) - Lightly raced(7-1-3-2), well-bred("A.P.Indy"), expensive ($560,000), improving, and in a very good barn (Eoin Harty). The top selection.
2nd pick: #5 (Thomas Baines) - Logical contender drops down to the level of a win on March 3rd. Over-matched last out in the Santa Anita Derby(G1) gelding by "Johannesburg" has yet to win on the turf, but finished a solid 3rd on this course last fall in the Eddie Read stakes. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #4 (Coloursoftheglen) - He finished a solid 2nd last out in a first-level allowance at this distance on the Santa Anita turf and is a late threat to the top pair with a repeat of that strong effort.