1. Test score (8-1 odds on the morning line): A very consistent 4-year-old faces an older horse for the first time. He has the rail, but his speed figures fall short compared to the older top horses in the field.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Graham Motion
2. Program trading (5-2): Fell too far back and then had traffic problems on the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) stretch. Was only beaten by 5 1/4 lengths that day and should enjoy the extra distance.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
3. Beach gold (15-1): In preparation for this, the Ft. Lauderdale Insert (G3T). Has a chance to play in the exotics if he fires his best race.
JOCKEY: David Egan; TRAINER: Patrick Biancone
4. One stripe (12-1): Showed unusual early speed in the Breeders’ Cup Mile before tiring. Went back to his closing style and then bumped into a claimer with an optional grant. Could come into the picture late with a good drive.
JOCKEY: Gavin Lerena; TRAINER: Graham Motion
5. Almendares (20-1): Has consistently earned a Rank 2 and 3 stakes on the West Coast. Hasn’t been tested at 1 1/8 miles yet in his 10 starts in 2024-’25, so distance is a question mark.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato
6. Call sign seven (15-1): Rallyed from seventh in the final furlong to win the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit Handicap on Nov. 29 at Del Mar after a layoff of more than 8 ½ months. We will have to take a step forward to be a top threat here, but that is not impossible.
JOCKEY: Ricardo González; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy
7. Major Guy (8-1): He finished sixth in last year’s race at odds of 5-1, so he’s a bit behind based on the odds. Has appeared on the board in 17 of 26 starts but hasn’t won a higher stakes title in over a year.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
8. Cape Spirit (8-1): Fast Californian looks like the one to catch. Despite the large field of competitors, he can get away with a moderate pace. Won the 1 1/8 mile San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita on the front, so he may hang around until the end.
JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou
9. On the hunt for the Crown (20-1): Rally from 12th to third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf. Has raced just three times since and failed to threaten in a pair of graduated stakes in his last two races.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Mike Maker
10. Cousin (7-2): Was a game second in the Ft. Lauderdale and previously won the Red Smith Stakes (G3T). The post may be problematic, but it deserves serious consideration.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey
11. Astronomer (15-1): Has been competitive in Classes 2 and 3, but a career record of three wins from 22 starts does not bode well against Class 1 competition from post position 11.
JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Simon Callaghan
12. Fort Washington (10-1): Finished a respectable fifth in last year’s race despite being pushed to eighth path for the stretch run after breaking post-position 12. Captured the Arlington Million (G1T) at 1 1/4 miles to become a Grade 1 winner, but hasn’t raced since early September, when he was a non-threatening sixth in a $2.5 million Kentucky Downs stakes. Can bounce back here with great difficulty, but landing again on post 12 does not help his chances.
JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey
13. Balnikhov (Also eligible): Needs a scratch to run after finishing eighth in his last two starts in graded stakes competition.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato
THE CHOICE: Program trading
LIVE LONGSHOT: One line
SUPERFECT: 2-8-10-4
#Glance #Bullish #Program #Trading #Pegasus #Turf