Top pick: #2 (RUSTIN RHETT) (9-5) - He has the best last race of any entered when he finished a distant second at this tag on Dec. 15. The winner of that contest came right back to take another annd this gelding is headed in the right direction after a series of layoffs.
2nd pick: #4 (Sir Arthur) (4-1) - Lightly-raced British Columbia-bred enters off a a series of three local starts where he's been showing some improvement. He tired last out after rushing up following a troubled break and his early speed makes him a win candidate in this field.
3rd pick: #3 (Tribal Dancer) (6-1) - Nicely-bred runner has raced evenly here this meet and last out had a very difficult outside post (11th of 12), going 5-furlongs. He was forced 10-wide enterng the stretch and draws much better today.
4th pick: #7 (Rib Eye) (5-1) - State-bred has raced evenly and finished within range in all three starts since coming off a pair of layoffs in late Nov. It wouldn't take much improvement for him to factor this afternoon.