Top pick: #11 (BOOKWORM) (3-1) - It's the final day of this meet, and this $150K son of "Bertrando" is taking a big drop in class for trainer Bob Baffert. He's raced evenly in his first pair at Del Mar and has been working fast locally for his first on the dirt. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #10 (Blame It On Tekela) (8-1) - Gelding has a stalking style and has been competitive in his first pair since dropping down for the price tag. He draws outside of some of the speed types and can factor with his best.
3rd pick: #5 (Justa Splash) (15-1) - One of two entered by trainer George Papaprodomou, and this grey gelding is cutting back of a sub par effort last out going a mile. Longshot can impact today at long odds.
4th pick: #8 (Scamalot) (15-1) - Very fast from the gate, he's dropping in class, moves from turf to dirt, and is cutting back in distance. He's racing second back from a long layoff, and his best ever came here 12 1/2 months ago in his only previous start on real dirt.
5th pick: #9 (Playmaker) (8-1) - The second of the Papaprodomou maidens, he finished a distant second here at this tag & trip on Oct. 12th. Improving overall and must be left in the mix.