Top pick: #8 (R JOLLEY CASSIE) (3-1) - Lightly raced home bred stretches out in distance and moves up a bit in class for this attempt. She just missed here despite a "bobbling" start for a $10K tag going 5.5-furlongs Nov. 16th, and unlike most entered she's not yet a confirmed loser.
2nd pick: #7 (Riverness) (4-1) - Veteran maiden has finished second in three of her last five starts and has done so in both tries at this 7-furlong trip. Filly likes to make a late run and is a threat in a field where many will be staggering down the stretch.
3rd pick: #2 (Simone Templar) (9-2) - Improving filly has early speed and enters off a pair of pace-setting back-to-back second place finishes here at this level. The latest came going a mile, and it produced a career best "figure." Excellent barn (Patty Farro) cuts her back a furlong, and this filly should be involved every step.
4th pick: #1 (Risque's Venom) (12-1) - She exits the same mile race as "Simone Templar" and ran evenly while almost four lengths back of that rival. Her best races have come at this distance, and longshot breaks from the rail.