Top pick: #6 (TAMARANDO) (2-1) - He's made a lot of dances since debuting at Hollywood Park in late June. No-speed type has been competitive against tougher fields than this along the way and finished second here on this surface to probable Kentucky Derby favorite "California Chrome" in a $250K stakes in late Jan. Working well for this and the distance is a plus.
2nd pick: #4 (Awesome Return) (4-1) - His only poor outing came when he finished an even fourth following a slow start in the same stakes in late January when "Tamarando" ran second. Other that that, he's made up late ground on a consistent basis and this 1 1/8th mile trip should be in his favor.
3rd pick: #2 (Alert Bay) (3-1) - He enters with three wins in a row, the latest coming in a $200K sprint stakes here on April 5th. Gelding has won going longer in the past and his speed/stalking style is a plus.
4th pick: #7 (Pray Hard) (6-1) - From the same barn (Jerry Hollendorfer) as "Tamarando," he raced evenly last out in the same stakes won by "Alert Bay". Gelding races third off a two month break and is trying a longer trip for the first time.