Top pick: #3 (SOONER THAN LATER) (10-1) - Longshot has tired during the stretch run of his last pair. Stalker has speed both to his inside and outside and can take this with some improvement down the lane.
2nd pick: #5 (Rock n' Cat) (8-1) - Speedy sort set the pace and tired here at this tag on Feb. 2. It was his first since July 20th and it's nice to see his connections bring him back quickly. He's in a good small barn (Randy Bonn) and this gelding should be at his best this afternoon.
3rd pick: #8 (Buccaneer Beach) (8-5) - The probable favorite, he's finished second in two straight here at this level. He's going just a bit farther today and that's a plus for his stalking style. An obvious threat.
4th pick: #4 (Lucky Lane) (5-2) - He debuted at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 1 and raced evenly after being bet down to 9-5. Sold right after that start, he's brought back quickly by new owner/trainer Jose Silva. New barn wins at a solid 20% rate with new arrivals and drops this Calif. bred in class while switching him from poly to real dirt.