Carryovers end year with a bang

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2014 racing year in Southern California may end with a jackpot payoff for a few bettors.

Wednesday’s eight-race program at Santa Anita has two carryovers – $95,175 in the pick six, which covers the third through eighth races, and $32,586 in the $1 super high five on the eighth race.

The focus will be on the pick six, which could have a pool of new money in excess of $700,000 following a two-day break from live racing since Sunday. Here is a glance at the leading contenders in the pick six races.

Third race

This is a competitive maiden race for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course, with one leading filly in Faringdon Circle stuck on the also-eligible list.

Spy Girl was third in a maiden race against males at Del Mar on Nov. 30 and will start on the hillside for first time. The course will be new to Celibataire, who was third in a maiden race on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 31 and has been working quickly.

A longshot to consider is Our Candy Charms, who closed well in her debut in a similar race Oct. 12.

Fourth race

Natalie’s Wonder, the winner of a $30,000 claiming race for maidens at Los Alamitos on Dec. 13, tries to win her second consecutive start in this $25,000 claimer over six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. Natalie’s Wonder has speed and should have a favorable trip from the outside post in a field of nine.

Take Back Spring, stakes-placed at Del Mar in July, is a threat from off the pace in her ninth start.

Fifth race

In a field of 14 maiden claimers going seven furlongs, Cool Roger and Majestic Charlie will figure prominently on many pick six tickets. They appear in a maiden-claiming race for the first time, having been well beaten in maiden special weight races.

Cool Roger has not raced since April 2013 but has quick recent works.

Prospector Alley, winless in nine starts, may appreciate a reduction in distance after fourth- and fifth-place finishes at a mile and 1 1/16 miles.

Sixth race

This is the day’s top race, an optional claimer over six furlongs for 2-year-olds, and the field includes recent maiden special weight winners Serbian Syclone and The Gomper.

Those who run well in this race could run next in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs Feb. 1.

Serbian Syclone finished eighth at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 in his debut and rebounded to win a maiden race over six furlongs on the synthetic main track at Del Mar on Nov. 16.

“I hope he’s not a synthetic-track specialist,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He’s trained well on the dirt.”

Serbian Syclone will start from the outside and will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo, who is likely to have the colt on the front.

“He’s got natural speed,” Miller said. “I like the draw.”

The Gomper won his debut in a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5, closing from sixth in a field of eight. The win surprised trainer Ron Ellis, who expected the distance to be too short.

“He was phenomenal,” Ellis said. “I’ve never really thought of him like a sprinter. He kind of surprised me that he could win a race at 5 1/2 furlongs. We’re looking for another good race and then stretch him out.”

Seventh race

None of the 12 California-bred fillies and mares entered in this optional claimer over a mile on turf won last out, including the two on the also-eligible list. Frandontjudge, second on Nov. 13, and A Little Luckier and Chati’s On Top, third in races on Thanksgiving weekend, will be well supported.

A Little Luckier was claimed by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer for $32,000 at Golden Gate Fields in her last race.

Eighth race

The pick six ends with a $40,000 claimer for maidens over 6 1/2 furlongs that drew a field of 13. There are three horses in the field racing as geldings for the first time – Bad Behavior, Dench, and Next Right.

Dead Easy is a threat from off the pace. Arlington House drops in class from a maiden special weight race at Del Mar in November.