Top pick: #5 (FIRE WITH FIRE) (8-1) - Price play raced evenly on the Golden Gate "poly" in a G3 stakes on Nov. 29 and that should set this versatile veteran up nicely for this turf stakes. He was very sharp on this course last winter and can take this from close range.
2nd pick: #4 (Dubai You X Y Z) (3-1) - Lightly-raced 7-year-old takes a big class jump today, but his stalking style annd speed "figures" suggest that he can compete with theses.
3rd pick: #1 (Slim Shadey) (9-2) - Veteran has been freshened up since a quartet of starts facing much tougher foes during the summer and fall. English-bred has the rail, good early speed, and is 4-for-10 on this course and only 1-for-21 elsewhere. A recent fast work indicates he'll be sharp today.
4th pick: #9 (Jeranimo) (9-5) - He won the G1 "Eddie Read" on the Del Mar turf in late July, but has not been a threat in a trio of starts since at that same lofty level. However, he likes this course (10-3-1-2) and was an easy winner of this stakes last January 13th. Obvious win candidate, but at a very short price.