Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #3 (FIRST STAR) (8-5) - She's one of two lightly raced and talented 4yos entered who would seem to have the outcome of this contest in their hands. This filly raced evenly when finishing fourth going 7 furlongs in G1 stakes here Dec. 28. It was her first start since Oct. 19 and she's working fast and stretching back out around two-turns. I give her a slight edge.
2nd pick: #2 (Der Lu) (2-1) - The other win candidate, she's from the Baffert barn and enters off a career-best Jan. 11. Racing here off almost a 100-day freshening, she was involved every step and held gamely to miss by a 'nose' at this distance in the La Brea Stakes (G3). A $900,000 daughter of 'Orb', she'll make sure that 'First Star' has to work hard to win this.
3rd pick: #1 (Starr of Quality) (9-2) - Veteran mare loves it local 14-6-1-3 and has reaced a figure many times in the past that could make her a threat. However, she's now a 6yo with 25 starts and doesn't have the room for upside of the top two selections.