Top pick: #3 (PRIME ISSUE) (5-1) - Veteran has been freshened up since missing by a "head" at this level on Dec. 20 at Los Alamitos. He's worked five times here since and has a solid local record of 7-3-1-1. Speed/stalker gets a slight edge.
2nd pick: #9 (Midnight Hawk) (7-2) - Stakes veteran is dropping down in class and stretching out in distance. Working fast, speedy sort is an obvious threat if he breaks cleanly. Lightly-raced grey colt has broken poorly in five of nine lifetime starts. Major player with a clean getaway.
3rd pick: #2 (Storm Fighter) (5-1) - Lightly-raced and speedy, he hasn't seen action since early July. All three career wins have come here on the dirt and two have been at this distance. Working fast and a threat if ready.
4th pick: #8 (Cool Samurai) (7-2) - Very lightly-raced, he ships back from the east coast where he won an entry-level allowance on Nov. 6 at Aqueduct. Moss home bred has a strong closing kick and broke his maiden here in late Dec. of 2013. He faces a pretty salty group this afternoon and may be over-bet a bit.
5th pick: #1 (Batti Man) (15-1) - He set a pressured pace and weakened late to be beaten 1 1/2 lengths racing here in a sprint at this level on Jan. 1. It was his first since early May and he's been working nicely since. Has the rail, stretches out, and can impact at a big price.