Top pick: #4 (CONQUEST TWO STEP) (3-1) - Lightly-raced colt has been razor sharp in both starts since coming off a two month break Dec. 26. He missed by a "neck" to the talented "Shared Belief" that day in the Malibu stakes (G1 )at this distance. Five weeks later he rallied to win the G2 'Palos Verdes" going 6-furlongs. By far a career best, he's working fast and is still a relatively fresh horse.
2nd pick: #1 (Chitu) (2-1) - Very fast from the gate, he's lightly raced and from the Baffert barn. Last out he set a pressured pace and held gamely to check in third, only a 1/2 length back of "Conquest Two Step." Working fast and a threat to go wire-to-wire.
3rd pick: #8 (Midnight Hawk) (6-1) - He's from the same barn (Baffert) as Chitu" and was well beaten by the both that runner and "Conquest" in the Malibu on Dec. 26. He came back to defeat a weaker group going a mile on Feb. 6. Working fast and can factor at a square price from off the pace.
4th pick: #7 (Wild Dude) (3-1) - He missed by less than a length in this race a year ago. Away for 9 1/2 months, he rallied to finish third, 3 1/2 back of "Conquest" in his return on Jan. 31. A useful effort, he can factor if he moves forward off of it.