Top pick: #1 (EL REAL MADRID) - Lightly raced colt had some real promise at one time but injuries have limited him to only four starts since Nov.1st of 2008. He won earlier this year at Aqueduct facing better and in his latest on April 1st he raced evenly in a tough field of $50K-optional foes. Training nicely for this, he drops into a straight claimer for the first time in his career and draws the rail. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Cuba ) - Veteran has as many wins on this surface (3) as the rest of the field combined. Always competitive when he races around this price and the distance is fine. Win threat.
3rd pick: #7 (Blank Check ) - Freshened-up since a win at this tag going 7 furlongs at Gulfstream March 17th, he has a pair of local wins and is training nicely for this comebacker.