Top pick: #4 (SIDEBAR) (5-2) - Lightly-raced filly has been freshened up since a pair of useful starts in August at Del Mar facing tougher. Away slowly in her debut, she raced evenly while encountering some traffic, then pressed a fast pace and held gamely to finish third 16 days later. Working nicely, vetern Bill Spawr drops her into a claimer and adds blinkers.
2nd pick: #8 (Shand) (6-1) - Stalker ran third last out at Hollywood at this tag and she had a tough outside post (10th of 11), and a wide trip. Filly has gone 4-0-2-2 in her four starts in claimers and two of those came on this surface. Win candidate at a square price.
3rd pick: #3 (Rockin Cowgirl) (9-2) - The speed of the speed, she's set fast fractions before weakening in the last furlong of each. She races for the first time since April 13 and has a new trainer (Troy Taylor 16% with new arrivals). Filly is working very fast and blinkers go on for the first time.
4th pick: #5 (Silk in Silver) (6-1) - Trainer Bobby Wayne Grayson won yesterday's maiden finale and he sends out this filly off a near miss at Hollywood when she debuted Dec. 15. Just like that runner, he doubles this 4-year-old up in price. Food for thought.
5th pick: #2 (Corinthian Melody) (3-1) - Mare is about equal on turf, dirt, or "poly" and is racing off almost a seven month layoff. Stalker is working nicely for her return and it's a plus to see Bejarano aboard.