Challenge awaits carryover chasers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The $65,000 Long Beach Stakes at Hollywood Park on Wednesday drew just six runners, but it is far from an easy race to handicap on a program that features a pick-six carryover of $154,139.

The Long Beach, run at a mile on turf for fillies and mares, features the stakes winners Mistical Plan, Spenditallbaby, and Wake Up Maggie.

Spenditallbaby and Mistical Plan were first and fourth in the B. Thoughtful Stakes here April 27. Mistical Plan won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in 2007.

Wake Up Maggie, a two-time group stakes winner in England last year, was promoted from third to second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita on April 13 after the disqualification of first-place Bahama Mama.

The Long Beach is Wednesday's seventh race. The first of the pick-six races is the third.

The pick six features three races for maidens, two of which are maiden claimers; two races for claimers; and the Long Beach, the only turf race in the sequence.

Many of the pick-six races feature large fields. The third race, for female maidens at 1 1/16 miles, has nine entrants. Halo's Clean Sheet, second in a maiden claimer April 24, makes her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

The fourth race, run at 6 1/2 furlongs for $10,500 to $12,500 claimers that have not won twice, has 13 entrants. Cactus Lightning, Eddie Munsta, Peace Accord, and Scott's Poppy lead an open race.

The fifth race for maiden claimers drew 12, including Benchmark Kid and High Investment, second and third against a similar field April 23.

Overall, the card has more quantity than quality. There are 10 entrants in the sixth race, a $25,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles for horses that have not won twice. Tizmet, scratched from a $16,000 claimer Sunday, has drawn the rail but has just one victory in 15 starts. Lutyens, who needed 10 races to beat maidens and followed with a second in a $12,500 claimer, could be a factor near the front.

The Long Beach, run at a mile on turf, also features I Can See, who was third, beaten a head, in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita last month. Wake Up Maggie figures to be favored.

There are 13 entrants in the last race, a maiden claimer for 2-year-olds at 4 1/2 furlongs that will have a safety limit of 10 starters.