Top pick: #12 (LEMON DROP DREAM) (9-2) - Highly thought of according to reports at Saratoga last summer, this colt has finished third in both starts and runs today for the first time since Aug. 18 when he was beaten three lengths at the Spa going 8.5 furlongs. Working nicely since coming to the coast and this son of "Lemon Drop Kid" can take this from just off the pace.
2nd pick: #11 (Buckleberry Dream) (8-1) - Price play has been competitive in three of his four turf starts and last Sept. 5 at Del Mar he finished fourth of nine, beaten just over a length in a $100K grass stakes. Fits, is working fast, and goes second back off a 7 week freshening.
3rd pick: #3 (Grand Giant) (7-2) - Colt by "Giant's Causeway" may go favored here as last out he missed by a neck at this level on Dec. 8 at Hollywood park. He's finished second in both grass sprints and is an obvious contender.
4th pick: #5 (I'm Wide Awake) (12-1) - Longshot has good early speed and has been competitive in both previous grass starts, including a fourth-place finish on this surface in a $100K stakes going a mile Oct. 8.