Top pick: #11 (HOLY ASCENSION) (7-2) - Speed/stalker has been competitive in two of three dirt sprints and all have been at this $30K tag. She held gamely to finish third at Los Alamitos on Dec. 13 and had to race between horses the entire first half-mile. Filly has worked locally since and gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #4 (I'll Tell You What) (6-1) - She enters off a career best when finishing second at this tag on the Del Mar "poly" Nov. 27. Speedy sort has worked here three times since then and two of those have been on the quick side. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #2 (Where Is My Mind) (12-1) - Obscurely bred filly has some speed, is cutting back off a mile race, and is breaking from the rail. Longshot should be involved most of the way at a big price.
4th pick: #8 (Powerful Girl) (5-1) - Bred/owned/and trained by veteran Hector Palma filly rallied while very wide to finish fourth at this tag on the Los Al dirt Dec. 4. She's working fast here since and it's noted that she's taken money at the windows in all four appearances.
5th pick: #12 (Emerald Bay) (15-1) - Harris home bred tired while wide when debuting at this tag Nov. 27 at Del Mar. Blinkers go on and this filly may improve enough to get a minor award at a big price.