Top pick: #1a (KNIGHT SPRING) (6-1) - Lightly raced Jersey-bred is racing first off a Scott Lake claim (12%) and a 7-week freshening (20%). Speed/stalker had a bullet half-mile breeze here on Dec. 5th that indicates she's ready for a big effort.
2nd pick: #7 (Luckyneva) (9-2) - Filly enters off a pair of narrow local defeats. Latest saw her miss by a "head" on Dec. 2nd facing state-bred, entry-level allowance foes. Nicely spotted this afternoon, she's the probable favorite, and a strong win candidate.
3rd pick: #8 (My Princess Diane) (7-2) - She ran well here on Dec. 13th in her first off a Patty Farro claim. Daughter of "Bluegrass Cat" has been competitive in seven of her last nine starts and should be again this afternoon.
4th pick: #9 (Saturday Storms) (3-1) - Midwest invader is racing first off a Ramon Preciado claim (a 24% winning angle). She seems best going longer, but the trainer change is a positive one and can't be ignored.