Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (CLASSY RULER) (5-2) - A $700,000 daughter of 'Empire Maker,' she rallied to finish 2nd when debuting at this level in a six-furlong sprint at Del Mar Nov. 30. Trainer John Shirreffs has worked her three times since, stretches her out in distance for this attempt, and Mike Smith stays aboard.
2nd pick: #3 (Storie Blue) (2-1) - One of a pair from trainer Bob Baffert, she's finished 2nd in both starts, each at this mile distance. Another daughter of 'Empire Maker,' she missed by a 'head' as the 7-5 favorite at Los Alamitos Dec. 15 and is an obvious win candidate today.
3rd pick: #6 (Crazy Speighty) (6-1) - The second of the Baffert trained fillies, she made up some ground from far back debuting in a sprint here Oct. 12. A home bred by 'Speightstown,' she's working fast for the barn (27% second time out) and Baffert is stretching her out in distance 26%.
4th pick: #4 (Cosmic Cowgirl) (7-2) - Well backed in both attempts, she's finished 3rd in each and was just over two lengths in back of 'Storie Blue' at this distance Nov. 22 at Del Mar. I believe she needs to step it up for anything more than a minor award.