Top pick: #1 (SECOND CITY) (5-2) - Well bred runner was stakes placed early in 2013 and is racing third back from a nine month layoff. Gelding by "Distorted Humor" finished second last out at this tag on the Del Mar "poly" and was claimed that day by Bob Diodoro. New man wins at a 28% rate first off the claim and he switches this once classier type back to conventional dirt where all four career wins have come. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #3 (Dysprosium) (2-1) - Speed/stalker is taking a big drop in class as trainer Ted West will race him on conventional dirt for the first time. Gelding by "Rock Hard Ten" has beaten better on the turf and continues to train well on the Santa Anita dirt. Very dangerous if he handles the new footing.
3rd pick: #2 (Tancredi) (15-1) - Longshot ships down from Golden Gate Fields where he was never involved last out after breaking from a tough outside post (10th of 10). Well bred and expensive ($175K), he was originally in the barn of Bob Baffert and broke his maiden on the Santa Anita dirt last April. May be competitive at a big price.