Top pick: #5 (LA MANO NERA) (2-1) - He has a recency edge on several others and has gone 5-2-2-1 since being claimed by leading trainer Bob Diodoro on Jan. 1st. Last out he chased and held down the place spot in a local sprint stakes and can take this with a repeat of that effort.
2nd pick: #2 (Tigger Town) (4-1) - Very fast from the gate, lightly raced 4yo is working extremely fast for his first since early October, and this grey gelding has run well "fresh" in the past.
3rd pick: #3 (Hamiltonian) (7-2) - Veteran was claimed at the Fair Grounds for $40,000 in early Feb., and has been freshened up by his new trainer (Greg Tracy). Stakes placed several times on the dirt, and he had a solid five-furlong breeze on this strip April 5.
4th pick: #6 (Uncle Dave) (9-2) - "Dave" will be cutting back in distance and moving from turf to dirt for this attempt. Capable on the main-track, he races with blinkers on, and will need to come from "off the pace" against this very strong group.