Top pick: #4 (AFRICAN GRAY) (4-1) - Veteran grey gelding has a solid career and has gone 38-9-9-4 racing on the grass. Strong finisher loves the local course (12-6-3-2) and ships in from the Midwest where he ran during the summer & fall. There's lots of potential speed signed on, and that should set things up for his stretch charge.
2nd pick: #5 (Rare Courage) (3-1) - He's racing off a re-claim by leading trainer Bob Diodoro, and he paid up a bit to get him back after losing him for one race. He'd won four of his last five for Diodoro and is an obvious win candidate.
3rd pick: #9 (Mancala) (5-2) - The probable main speed, Cal bred is another that loves the Turf Paradise turf (10-4-3-2) and is back in fine shape after a pair of layoffs. He has a quick recent work and is a win candidate on the front end.
4th pick: #8 (C S I Iowa) (6-1) - No speed type raced evenly here facing a bit tougher on Nov. 10th. It was his first since late May, and he probably needed the start. He's gone 31-8-5-5 here over the years and has beaten tougher many times in the past. Stretch threat.