Top pick: #8 (HOWELLING WIND) - He's run well in all 5 starts (1-2-1) and hasn't been beaten more that two lengths in any of them. Speed/stalker finished 2nd here facing tougher on Dec 10th and this gelding draws outside of the other pace types. His trainer (Jorge Navaro) is off to a fine start here (12-3-2-2) and this newly turned 3yo is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #1 (Flipion) - Home-bred from Maryland won two in a row at Delaware late in their meet and raced well in his local debut in the same race as "Wind". Colt was 1 1/2 length back of that rival and today should be a much bigger price than him. Has the rail and is a major threat from just off the pace.
3rd pick: #7 (Importuno) - The field's most experienced runner ran a career best when breaking his maiden here on Dec 9th. By far his best effort so far and he may just be "finding" himself. Threat right back at square odds.