Top pick: #1 (SCARY MIDNIGHT) (9-5) - Speed/stalker is (5-2-1-1) in abbreviated sprints and finished third here at this tag and distance on Nov. 3 in his second start back off a five month layoff. Veteran draws the rail and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #7 (Estancia) (2-1) - Gelding has some back class, early speed, and comes into this off a pair of local fourth-place finishes at this level. His best work has been done on this surface (20-4-5-5), he's a win candidate, and I a came close to making him the top choice.
3rd pick: #5 (Smokin Fame) (4-1) - Until coming here in late October, this Ca.-bred had spent his entire career in No. California. He tired in his local debut after settin the pace and his connections shorten him up a furlong for this attempt.