Top pick: #3 (DECANTERED) (5-2) - New Mexico invader has gone 6-0-2-2 racing on conventional dirt and all have come facing tougher. Stalker has a new trainer (Angel Silva) and he's dropping him to a new low in claiming price. Gelding worked a sharp half-mile here Jan. 9 and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #6 (Angel of Gold) (5-1) - He's run well in his last pair and enters off a "troubled" trip in his latest. Cali. bred has good positional speed and is a threat from close range.
3rd pick: #1 (Juan Tabo) (9-2) - He enters off a distant third place finish here on Dec. 27. Well bred gelding had some traffic issues entering the first turn that afternoon and was forced much farther back than he usually. Has the rail and is a factor with a clean journey.
4th pick: #9 (My Irish Star) (4-1) - Long time maiden has done all his best work locally 8-0-2-3. However, he draws a tough outside post and his lack of early speed will may limit him to another small slice. He needs some pace help for anything more than that.