All eyes on mandatory-payout pick six Monday

With a presumed six-figure carryover and an expected robust pool of additional money, the 20-cent Golden pick six at Golden Gate Fields will have a mandatory payout on Monday, a rare day when the Northern California track will be a focus for bettors across the nation.

Last month, Golden Gate Fields announced it would run Monday this week instead of on a crowded Saturday that included blockbuster cards at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Santa Anita is also racing on Monday, following the postponement of its Friday program because of concern over wet conditions.

Golden Gate Fields began the racing week on Friday with a carryover of $124,190 in the Golden pick six. Interest will be high on Monday, assuming there is not a rare single ticket that scoops the pool on Friday or Sunday.

The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on a nine-race program that begins at 12:15 p.m. Pacific. The first race of the pick six begins at approximately 1:45 p.m. The sequence includes two races around two turns and four sprints.

The fourth race, run at a mile for $8,000 claimers who have not won twice, drew a field of six led by Kaline and Dark Prince.

Kaline, winless in his last 11 starts, was fourth in a restricted $12,500 claimer on Feb. 6, but a more encouraging second in a race at this level on Jan. 21. Dark Prince, winless in four starts since July at Del Mar, takes a sharp drop in class following a fifth-place finish in a restricted $20,000 claimer on Feb. 18.

Bernalinho will attract support in his first start for trainer Jonathan Wong, who claimed the gelding for $8,000 on Feb. 13 from a third-place finish at a mile.

In the fifth race, a maiden special weight for older female maidens at six furlongs, the first-time starter Alqwani is worth considering on the basis of a decent pattern of workouts and the fact her dam, Pop Quality, has produced two first-race winners. Andy Mathis trains Alqwani, who will be ridden by Assael Espinoza.

According to Judy, a fair third in a similar race for maidens on Feb. 13 in her 2022 debut, will attract loads of support, partially because of the presence of top jockey Armando Ayuso.

Pick six bettors may need several selections to work through the sixth race, a restricted $6,250 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs. Leading runners in a field of eight include Satanta, who has won three of his last four starts on the synthetic main track; Pappy Boyington, fifth in a $20,000 claimer on Feb. 19; and Bigfoot City, sixth in a $20,000 claimer on Feb. 18.

Emerald Magic, who ended an eight-race losing streak with a three-length win in a $4,000 claimer on Feb. 19, drew the rail and can play a factor as a stalker.

The quality improves somewhat in the second half of the pick six.

Many tickets will focus on Artemus Gordon in the seventh race, a starter allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Artemus Gordon, the mount of Frank Alvarado, was the sharp winner of a maiden special weight race for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs for trainer Tim McCanna on Feb. 13.

Artemus Gordon has five rivals, notably Heaven Shines, who drew the outside post and will be near the front early.

McCanna, who won with 8 of 25 runners at Golden Gate Fields in February, starts Shadrack in the eighth race, an allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. Shadrack has not raced since a sixth in the Rolling Green Stakes on turf last September, but has done well following a layoff in the past.

Shadrack will need to be sharp to contend with Tom’s Surprise and Tesoro, who were separated by a neck when first and second in a similar race at a mile on Feb. 12. Tom’s Surprise has won his last two starts and figures to be favored.

The final race, a $12,500 claimer for maidens at six furlongs, may require a bit of coverage.

North Sea is winless in nine starts and drops into a claimer for the first time since November against this modest group. Into Bourbon is a second-time starter who was fourth by three lengths in a six-runner race at this level on Jan. 17. He broke from the rail in that field and is better drawn here in post 6.

Ayuso rides for trainer Jamey Thomas, who is adding blinkers to Into Bourbon’s equipment.