Top pick: #7 (LUCKBOX SAM) (7-2) - The main speed, he's gone 4-1-0-3 since coming off a two month layoff in early August. In shape, the level and distance are fine and he had a bullet half-mile breeze on Dec. 6 at Santa Anita. He gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #8 (Apollo Ten) (3-1) - Stalker is dropping in class and is switching from "poly" to conventional dirt. He's never won on the surface but has back class and at this reduced level is a win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Sheer Talent) (3-1) - Freshened up since mid-October, he's going turf to dirt and shortening up in distance. Stalkers last win came on the Santa Anita dirt in May going 6.5-furlongs and can factor with his best.
4th pick: #3 (McKenzie's Way) (6-1) - Veteran is racing for only the third time since coming off an eight month layoff in August. He finished second last out at Santa Anita on Oct 16 and had a very fast gate drill there just a few days ago.