Top pick: #11 (BODEMEISTER) - One of two colts entered by trainer Bob Baffert and the pair race uncoupled. This son of "Empire Maker" was a very impressive maiden winner at Santa Anita going a mile on Feb. 11, then just failed when he ran second to the talented "Creative Cause" March 10th in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). Working very fast for this, he gets a slight edge in a strong and "deep" field.
2nd pick: #7 (Optimizer) - He showed some hints of things to come last year at age two and appeared to be the type that would like longer distance. Colt flew home last out on this surface to finish second to "Secret Circle" in the Rebel stakes(G2) and veteran Wayne Lukas has worked him three times since.
3rd pick: #5 (Secret Circle) - The second of the Baffert pair is a 1/2 length from being a perfect 6-for-6 and this colt has won the first two stakes in a series leading up to this important contest. Very game runner, he seems to know exactly where the wire is. Son of "Eddington" looked beaten in his last pair, but re-rallied in each to get the job done. Completes a strong hand from the barn.
4th pick: #2 (Stat) - It wouldn't be a big 3-year-old race without a runner from the Pletcher barn. Grey son of "Unbridled's Song" ran a career best when defeating weaker last out at Gulfstream. Speed/stalker is wsorking fine at Palm Meadows and draws near the rail. It's always nice to see Johnny Velazquez come in for the mount.