Top pick: #5 (SPIRIT OF JOY) (5-2) - Lightly-raced filly has improved in all three starts since debuting at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 1. She broke her maiden here at this distance and looked sharp doing so. Stalker is in the Diodoro barn, has a pair of fine works heading into this, and 3-year-old is well spotted in her first facing winners.
2nd pick: #7 (Jaycee's Faith) (3-1) - She defeated "Spirit of Joy" two back but then tired at this level and distance on Nov. 11 in her first facing winners. Daughter of "Sky Mesa" had some traffic issues that day and is very dangerous this afternoon.
3rd pick: #8 (Kuribayashi) (5-1) - Nicely bred filly was an impressive winner when debuting at Albuquerque on Sept. 19. She's tired badly facing tougher in both follow up starts and will be going turf to dirt, dropping in class, and daughter of "War Chant" will be racing with blinkers on.
4th pick: #6 (Clever Memo) (10-1) - Not a win candidate, but she rallied to finish second here at this tag and trip on Nov. 11. It was her best overall since this past Feb. when grey 4-year-old was competitive in four straight local attempts at this level.