Top pick: #5 (MASTER DECEIVER) (3-1) - Gelding chased and tired to finish third here on Dec. 29 going 7 furlongs racing for a 425K tag. Solid effort came off a 65 day break and triner Rick Vega will stretch him out to a mile and drop him to a new low in price.
2nd pick: #6 (Sports Day) (2-1) - Well-bred runner was claimed late in October at Keeneland for $15K and trainer Steve Klesaris has had him on the sidelines for almost 100 days. Strong finisher is working at Fair Hill for his return and will be finishing fast.
3rd pick: #4 (Northern Glow) (7-2) - Cal.-bred gelding rallied from far back to finish second here racing for a 410k tag on Jan. 1. Race was his first since coming from Hollywood Park, his first on real dirt, and first for trainer Lou Linder Jr.
4th pick: #1 (Smart Phone) (8-1) - He's part of a Russ Cash trained entry and he has jockey Shannon Uske listed on both halves. Jersey-bred gelding stretches back out after a near miss (a neck) here going 6 furlongs on Dec. 22.