Top pick: #8 (BUD AND BRANDY) - One-run type rallied to finish second on this surface at this distance Jan. 16, then raced evenly last out after being eliminated from contention when she had some traffis issues at the break. Trainer Bob Troeger has worked her twice since then and filly catches a field with a lot of early speed. 4-year-old can run them down late.
2nd pick: #5 (Sea John's Spirit) - Heavily bet in her debut here going "down the hill" on Feb. 12, she chased while wide and tired during the stretch run. Working fast for this, trainer Eoin Harty moves this home-bred to the dirt this afternoon.
3rd pick: #7 (Mary Contrary) - Home-bred by "Mizzen Mast" finished a pace-setting second at odds of 43-1 when debuting here Oct. 9, then tired after being involved in a speed-duel four weeks later as the favorite. Trainer Sean McCarthy has freshened her up since and filly is working both fast and frequently for her return.