Top pick: #5 (CYRUS ALEXANDER) (3-1) - Very expensive ($1.7M) son of "Medaglia d'Oro" has been competitive while showing speed in both appearances. Last out at Del Mar he chased an impressive gate-to-wire winner and held gamely to finish second while almost nine lengths clear of the third-place runner. He gets a slight edge over #9 "Kantune."
2nd pick: #9 (Kantune) (4-1) - Stalker has been competitive in all five outings and has done so on dirt, "poly," and turf. In shape and two back he was 2 1/2 clear of "Cyrus" going 7-furlongs here. Win candidate.
3rd pick: #6 (Nob Hill) (12-1) - Interesting longshot hails from the Baffert barn. $700K son of "Curlin" raced wide while never involved last Sunday at Los Alamitos. He's turned around quickly and had some fine works on view before his recent debut.
4th pick: #1 (Second Summer) (5-1) - No-speed type moves from turf to dirt after missing by a 1/2 length at this level and distance on the Del Mar turf Nov. 29. Working fast on the dirt for this and a big threat down the stretch.
5th pick: #4 (Force) (20-1) - He's from the same barn as "Kantune" (Mark Casse) and is stretching out in distance after an even effort when debuting in a Del Mar sprint Nov. 16. Colt had some traffic issues at the break and has worked fast here three times since.