Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #3 (SONDRIO) (5-2) - Lightly raced colt faces winners for the first time. He broke his maiden here going five furlongs for a $10K claiming price. It was his first with blinkers on, and he's worked fast twice since. Gets a slight edge over #5 'Aussie Rocks.'
2nd pick: #5 (Aussie Rocks) (8-5) - English bred rallied late to win by 1.5 lengths when breaking his maiden at this distance Jan. 11th racing for an $8,000 claiming tag. He's lightly raced, has plenty of room for upside, and is from a top barn (Mike Chambers). A strong win candidate.
3rd pick: #2 (Shot in the Dark) (10-1) - Improving sort is another entering off a maiden win. Cal bred rallied strongly to win by a 1/2 length racing going five furlongs Jan. 9th. Longshot should like the added furlong he travels, but needs to step it up considerably to challenge the top two selections.
4th pick: #6 (Rincon) (12-1) - The field's only maiden, he's been in with winners in his last pair facing tougher. Trainer Carl O'Callaghan is dropping him to a new low, and I think he can get a share of this at long odds.