Top pick: #5 (WHEN WE MET) (8-5) - Veteran gelding is equally proficient on both dirt and "poly" and has gone 6-4-1-1 in 2014. Freshened up since Oct. 19 he was a winner here on Sept. 6 in his only previous local appearance. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #4 (W Giles) (3-1) - He did not race as a 2-year-old, but has gone 15-3-5-3 this year and has gone 3-2-1-0 at Los Alamitos. Speedy sort finished second here just eight days ago and should be involved from start-to-finish.
3rd pick: #3 (Bob Consultation) (4-1) - He finished an even fourth in late October at Santa Anita in his first since early July. Working well for this and all of his previous success has come on conventional dirt. Must be left in the mix.