Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #3 (WHIRLING) (4-1) - Lightly-raced filly raced evenly when debuting here in a sprint at this level April 8. Purchased for $210,000 as a 2-year-old in training in March of 2017, daughter of 'Twirling Candy' was bet down to 2-1 favoritism in her first start and is working bullets for this attempt in which she stretches out to a mile. I like her chances.
2nd pick: #5 (Hottalabamba) (5-2) - Speed/stalker from the Baffert barn is also stretching out in distance. $425,000 purchase rallied to finish second when debuting in a Los Alamitos sprint at this level Dec. 1. Sent in for a 2.5 month break, she was away slowly before rushing up and tiring to check in a distant third here Feb. 17. Working above average, Baffert wins at a strong 32% rate on the distance increase.
3rd pick: #1 (Chickatini) (2-1) - Home bred by 'Bernardini' set a solid pace before tiring late to finish second here at this level going 8.5 furlongs March 23. A career best, filly has the rail and is an obvious contender and the possible favorite.