Top pick: #1 (OMEGA STAR) (5-2) - He was a visually impressive maiden winner here going 6.5 furlongs on Dec. 31 after shipping here from Aqueduct and joining the barn of John Shirreffs. He draws the rail, has worked fine since, and from what I saw in his win, he has unlimited potential.
2nd pick: #8 (Monument) (7-2) - He won the $250K "Cal Cup Juvenile" on this surface Oct. 13, then had a troubled trip while over-matched in the "Breeders' Cup Juvenile" (G1) on Nov. 3. Latest effort saw him finish a close up third at Hollywood in the $200K "King Glorious" and he's working fast for this. Along with "Omega Star" and "Alydidit," he's one of three who has won on this surface in the past.
3rd pick: #6 (Fighting Hussar) (5-1) - Much improved since returning from a two month break on Nov. 15 and last out ran a career best when losing narrowly to today's rival "Weewinin" in a rich stakes at Hollywood. He should be involved from start to finish.
4th pick: #10 (Surfcup) (8-1) - Lightly-raced Baffert trainee rallied from well back to win his debut racing on the Hollywood turf, then tired after pressing a fast pace in the same Dec. 16 stakes at Hollywood common to many others. Needs to step it up.
5th pick: #3 (Major Truth) (20-1) - Longshot is not a win candidatte, but could grab a minor award at a big price if the pace is fast/and or contested.