Top pick: #12 (ROYAL ALEXANDER) - Gelding had to be sent hard last out from an inside post and held well to finish fourth of 12, beaten just under 3 lengths. Moves out in the gate and that should lead to a more comfortable trip. The choice in a contentious finale.
2nd pick: #3 (Tale Be Told) - Improving gelding rallied to finish third racing here at this price and distance on Jan. 1. Trainer Mike Puype has worked mim twice since and the barn is on a nice "roll" at this meet. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #13 (Idonttrollonshabos) - He's an uncoupled barn-mate of "Alexander" as both are trained by Pete Miller. Colt missed by a head at this price racing at Hollywood on Dec. 10 and has four published works in the past month.
4th pick: #8 (Sky Larkin) - Heavily bet here at this price on Jan. 6, he raced wide after breaking from an outside post and and weakened after making a good bid turning for home.