Top pick: #5 (HYMN BOOK) - The patience that "Hall of Fame" trainer Shug McGaughey has shown with this gelding by "Arch" has really paid off as he's really come into his own over the past year. Last out at Gulfstream he got up in the last stride to win the Donn H.(G1) and that ran his record at this 9-furlong distance to (3-2-1-0). The top pick in a very competitive contest.
2nd pick: #6 (Alternation) - Lightly-raced 4-year-old by "Distorted Humor" enters this in career best shape and has won stakes on this surface in his last two starts after coming back from a 3 1/2 month layoff on Feb. 4. Home-bred has plenty of talent, and trainer Donnie von Hemel has worked him four times since he won the G3 Razorback H. here on March 10th.
3rd pick: #8 (Ron the Greek) - He's always hinted at big talent and last out finally broke through when he was an easy winner of the Santa anita Hdcp(G1) on March 3rd. Easily his best ever and it followed up a solid second-place finish to the talented "Mucho Macho Man" in the $400K Sunshines Million Classic at Gulfstream Jan. 28. Working fine at Payson Park for this and 5-year-old can be placed just about anywhere.
4th pick: #7 (Yawanna Twist) - Another who's beginning to develop and he aso hinted at talen when he finished a close-up fourth back in 2010 in the Preakness Stakes(G1). Enters this off a career best "figure" earned at Laurel when winning the 7 furlong General George(G2) on Feb. 20 and is working very fast for this.