#1 Lookin At Lucky

#6 Noble's Promise

#4 Marcello

#8 Wildlee Special

The closing weekend feature is a big year-end event for the 2 year olds. We hate to go out with a 4-5 shot on top but if LOOKIN AT LUCKY runs back to either of his last 2 starts that may well be what happens. 'LUCKY gets a much more reasonable post than he had in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last month where he had no choice but to fall way back early and then rallied strongly to just miss in a race that came back solid from a speed figure standpoint. In this smaller field where he drew the rail it would not be surprising to see him a little closer early and then kick on strongly to solidify his status as a Derby trail contender.

NOBLE'S PROMISE won the Breeder's Futurity at Keeneland as a prep to a strong try in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile where he finished only a head back of LOOKIN AT LUCKY. In both of his last 2 starts NOBLE'S PROMISE has shown the ability to launch a strong mid-race move which catapults him into contention and makes him dangerous to break away at the crucial point in the race. This colt has never run a bad race in his 5 race career and has 2 strong route efforts on synthetic surfaces. His figure from the BC Juvenile was also very solid and makes him the most logical upsetter to the favorite.

MARCELLO is another Baffert runner and stablemate of LOOKIN AT LUCKY who has come into his own the last 2 starts. He rallied against a terribly slow pace 2 starts back to win an allowance mile that was slow on figures but likely better than looked because of the snail-like pace. Last time out MARCELLO rallied in the Generous stakes on grass to earn a respectable figure and a repeat over the synthetic would give him a chance at a major piece of this one. The allowance mile was one that was taken off the turf and the last race on grass make it look like his connections have already decided his future may be on the lawn so there may be a question of his ability to repeat the last effort when switched to the synthetic surface.

WILDLEE SPECIAL just broke his maiden by open lengths at Meadowlands and though he takes a major step up here to tackle the top contenders he may be a rapidly improving type that can handle the raise. Rick Dutrow knows how to handle a promising 2 year old and his decision to show up in this spot must be respected.

Betting strategy:

LOOKIN AT LUCKY has done nothing wrong either on or off the track and looks to take a major piece while offering low value. The best value to squeeze here will be with using him as an exacta key to our other contenders, some of which will offer decent value.

Exactas keying LOOKIN AT LUCKY to the other contenders.