Top pick: #9 (GIMME DA LUTE) (3-1) - Triple Crown nominee missed by a 'nose' when debuting against open Special Weight competition here on Jan 3t. Brought back three weeks later by trainer Bob Baffert, home bred by 'Midnight Lute' looked sharp when defeating fellow Cal-breds at this trip Feb 21. Working fast, he draws a nice outside post, and speed/stalker is the only horse that has won at this distance. The horse to beat.
2nd pick: #7 (Grazen Sky) (5-2) - Grey colt has gone 4-2-2-0 to date and both of his wins have come here. Home bred is in shape, has a flexible style, and Bejarano stays aboard. Strong win candidate.
3rd pick: #4 (Richard's Boy) (3-1) - Undefeated (3-for-3) speed-ball has also shown a lot of grittiness in his last pair. Seems to like to fight it out and should be involved again from start-to-finish.
4th pick: #6 (Chief of Staff) (6-1) - Colt was a sharp maiden winner here on Jan 24. It was his first start since Sept. when he ran second at Emerald Downs when debuting. Sold privatively after that, he's now with Jerry Hollendorfer. Runs with blinkers on, but he needs to step it up some in this spot.