Top pick: #2 (PELEKAS BAY) (4-1) - $160K purchase has some changes today that can lead to his maiden win. Four-year-old is dropping in class, stretching out a furlong, and has blinkers added. He finished an even third here facing tougher Dec. 29 in his first since coming from Florida. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #5 (Knockacruz) (6-1) - Pa. bred ships in from Penn National. He was competitive in his first three starts but was sub par last out Dec. 12. Freshened up since, trainer Jonathan Sheppard drops him in class and shortens him up in distance.
3rd pick: #1 (So Valor) (5-2) - The probable favorite, he rallied to miss by less than a length racing here at this tag Dec. 28. It was his second off a long layoff and a career best. Very dangerous in this spot.
4th pick: #4 (This Cat Has Bling) (6-1) - He raced evenly last out while finishing third. Pa. bred was 5 1/2 back of "So Valor" that afternoon in his first back off a pair of layoffs. May grab a share with a late rally at a square price.