Del Mar pick six carryover now $253K

Sundays pick six at Del Mar, already guaranteed to reach $1 million, will feature a carryover of $253,116 from Saturday's program.

Sunday's program is one of the best of the meeting, a pick six that features two stakes, including the $1 million Pacific Classic.

The pick six covers the fifth through 10th races on a program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The first pick six race, the fifth race, is scheduled for 3 p.m.

A glance at the pick six races shows a few wide-open races and a few where bettors can take a stand with a single selection.

The fifth race is an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares that will feature 10 entrants. Swiss Current has been scratched.

Sure Speed, who won an optional claimer against statebreds on July 27, will go favored in a jump to open company. She is the 3-1 favorite on the morning-line. D Pirates Marker, who drew the outside, stretches out to two turns following a fourth-place finish in the Fleet Treat Stakes over seven furlongs against statebreds on July 22.

Trick a Cat, R Vicarious Girl and the frontrunner Itschelseagirl are worth considering.

The sixth race is a strong maiden race for 2-year-olds over six furlongs. The field of 12 features eight-first time starters. One of the experienced horses, Overextended, figures to play a prominent role. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Overextended is expected to be favored. He has finished behind two of the best 2-year-olds on the circuit - Drill Down and Salute the Sarge.

The expensive purchases Forest Echoes, Processor's Turf, and Haggis Macpherson will attract support. Haggis Macpherson is expected to show speed in his debut for trainer Brian Koriner.

The $400,000 Del Mar Mile on turf is the seventh race, featuring a field of nine. Out of Control, the winner of the Grade 2 American Handicap at Hollywood Park in June, will be favored, but will need to run the race of his life to beat the 2006 Grade 1 winner Becrux, and the improving Crossing the Line, who is making his stakes debut.

Lang Field, who was third to Becrux in the Wickerr Handicap on July 27, is expected to set the pace and could be close at the finish.

The eighth race is the richest of the meeting, the $1 million Pacific Classic. Lava Man, the undisputed leading older horse in California, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite and defending champion, but has drawn the rail and has 12 rivals.

Lava Man won the Hollywood Gold Cup for the third consecutive year on June 30 and has worked well over this course.

To defend his title, he must beat a formidable team of Sun Boat and Big Booster from trainer Mike Mitchell; Gold Cup runner-up A.P. Xcellent; Hello Sunday, who won impressively here on July 19; and Arson Squad, who is trained by suddenly in-form Bruce Headley.

There is a chance that the 3-year-old Tiago could scratch. Trainer John Shirreffs said the issue would be discussed between himself and owners Jerry and Ann Moss on Saturday evening.

The last two races on Sunday feature fields of 10. The ninth race is an optional claimer over six furlongs. Weekend Tiger, and Midwesterner have been scratched.

The race should be run at a true pace. Bro Lo, Relato Del Gato, and Air Ace, who have shown ample speed in their careers, are part of the field. If they go too fast, the closers Men Only and Oceanus could be well positioned.

The final race is a $35,000 to $40,000 claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Chadlington is scratched, leaving a field of 10.

The entry of Mananan McLir and Imitation will be heavily favored, perhaps the shortest prices during the pick six sequence.