Barretts at Fairplex: Pick five moves back on wagering menu

POMONA, Calif. – The Barretts at Fairplex wagering menu will undergo a minor tweak Thursday when eight races are presented at the Los Angeles County Fair.

The 50-cent pick five begins one race later than normal; it covers races 4-8 Thursday. The $2 pick six will cover the final six races, 3-8. Officials changed the start of the pick five to avoid conflict between the two bets, though the pick five is far more popular.

The first eight days of racing at Barretts, average pick-five handle exceeded $79,000; average pick-six handle was slightly more than $58,000. The only time it out-handled the pick five was Sept. 12 when a pick six carryover was at stake. The meet’s second carryover was offered Wednesday.

Regardless of which bet that players go for Thursday – the low-takeout (14 percent) pick five or high-takeout (23.68 percent) pick six – the best races Thursday are included in both sequences.

Race 6 is a starter allowance for horses who started for a $40,000 claiming price or less and have not won two races. Seven entered the six-furlong race in which Shining Son is favored at 3-1. Vann Belvoir trains Shining Son, runner-up last out at Del Mar. Horses who last started at Del Mar won 48 of the first 80 Thoroughbred races this fall at Barretts.

His main rival is Myfundsarelo, maiden winner vs. weak foes at Betfair Hollywood. None in the field he beat has returned to win, though Myfundsarelo overcame trouble in the victory. Trainer Craig Dollase won two races Sunday, and is 9 for 27 the past five years at Barretts.

Other contenders in the field include Our Magic Couple, a 5-for-14 veteran who is eligible because his four most-recent wins were at levels below those considered in the conditions. Races for a claiming price of $12,500 or less are not considered.

Race 7 is an interesting 1 3/8-mile marathon for horses who have started for a claiming tag of $12,500 or less this year. Big Wags and Tamarack Smarty are the program favorites at 5-2 and 3-1, respectively.

Big Wags won a $12,500 claimer last out at Del Mar. Big Wags, 8 for 45 in his career, has won 5 of 7 for trainer Bill Spawr. Agapito Delgadillo rides Big Wags, runner-up in a similar race two years ago here.

Tamarack Smarty rallied from last to win a restricted $12,500 claiming race at Barretts on Sept. 8. Mike Mitchell trains, Alonso Quinonez rides. Keep Movin’ and Would You also figure as contenders.