Top pick: #1 (DICE FLAVOR) (7-2) - Colt has been competitive in all three starts and broke his maiden at Hollywood Park on Dec. 16 on the grass. Son of "Scat Daddy" won that day despite some traffic issues and trainer Pat Gallagher has freshened him up for the past seven weeks. Like his chances.
2nd pick: #6 (One Firm Cat) (8-5) - The probable favorite, he broke his maiden here on the grass going "down the hill" Oct. 14 and then had some traffic issues in a pair of turf stakes. He showed nothing last out on Dec. 29, but the race was switched to the dirt. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #5 (Miceli) (7-2) - The field's only two-time winner, he ships back from Turf Paradise where he earned a nice "figure" when beating allowance foes on Jan. 16. Well-bred, improving, and a threat right back.
4th pick: #4 (Imperative) (12-1) - Colt by "Bernardini" cost the Darley people $325K and was a maiden winner two back on the Golden Gate "poly." He's bred to like the grass, but his lack of any early speed hurts his chances.