Top pick: #9 (EXCESSIVENESS) (3-1) - Grey daughter of "Exchane Rate" is training fast locally for her first off a Mike Maker claim (26%) and a subsequent seven week freshening. Much improved since blinkers went on in early Jan. and she's the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #11 (Exotic Mischief) (4-1) - Lightly-raced filly is (4-1-2-0) racing on the Fair Grounds turf and trainer Tom Amoss will move her to a synthetic surface for the first time. A pair of recent impressive local works suggest that the new footing will be fine with her. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #10 (Sense of a Woman) (6-1) - West coast invader broke her maiden on the Hollywood "poly" in late Nov. and has gone (3-0-1-2) at Santa Anita since then running on grass and dirt. Stalker fits and must be left in the mix.
4th pick: #7 (Miss Sweet Afleet) (15-1) - Longshot moves up in class and stretches out in distance after finishing a troubled fourth in in a sprint 5 days ago running for a $20K tag. I like the quick turnaround and she can factor at a big price.