Free: How I'll play Santa Anita pick six for Sunday, March 26

ARCADIA, Calif. – A traditional pick six carryover of $126,169 is on tap Sunday at Santa Anita. Below is a closer look at the sequence (races 4-9), with “ABC” designations.

Race 4 – NINE POINT NINE (1) is the most probable winner on the card in this turf route. Runner-up last out setting a fast pace in a second-level allowance at 1 1/4 miles, she drops to starter allowance ($25,000 claiming) and shortens to 1 1/8 miles.

Four of the last eight turf races at this distance were won wire to wire. That suits Nine Point Nine. In this handicapper’s opinion, she is an “A”, also known as a single.

The program favorite is ENDURING ERIN (4), second-level allowance winner two starts back, albeit on dirt. Any of the others would be a surprise. Enduring Erin merits “B” status on a back-up.

Race 5 – The runner-up debut by ADORNED (5) last fall at Del Mar was solid. But it was a sprint for 2-year-olds. Four months later, the Uncle Mo 3-year-old colt goes two turns in a maiden special weight against 4-year-old career maidens Uninvited (2) and Hollywood Strike (4). The pair is a combined 0-for-19.

Adorned received positive work analysis from National Turf clocker Andy Harrington. For second-time starter Adorned, the question is getting two turns, second time out, while making his first start in four months. Otherwise, one of the career maidens – Uninvited or Hollywood Strike – should finally get there. Seau (1) is fourth preference.

Race 6 – Forwardly placed runners have done well lately on the hillside. The course profile benefits favorite FABULOUS LADY (7). She drops from special-weight to maiden-75, has the top figures, finished second twice already on the hill, and will be positioned 1-2-3 on the outside. What is the knock? This is her seventh attempt to break her maiden.

Fabulous Lady is solid. However, a maiden making her ninth start, AGUACAFE (2), is the gamble based on her running style at two turns. She always loses ground at the finish, she seemingly has distance limitations. Now she sprints for the first time since her debut in summer 2015. Aguacafe is an ideal route-to-sprint play, at 6-1.

Second-time starter ISLA CITY (1) pressed and faded in her debut. Wheeled back in 16 days, dropping from maiden special weight, with a race under her belt, expect improvement. She is a “B.”

Five others (3-6, 8) merit “C” status.

Race 7 – SKYE DIAMONDS (2), a sprinter, will win this route if she stays two turns. Otherwise, stakes-winning route filly SHEER PLEASURE (8) should wear her down. The race is the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares at one mile, and Skye Diamonds is the one to catch. Her sprint romp last out was wild; she trained super since.

However, Skye Diamonds might be too fast for her own good; the Santa Anita main track plays fair. The surface will not carry her. If she goes too fast, she may not last.

Sheer Pleasure won this stakes a year ago, has an alibi for her recent misfire (wheeled back too soon). She seems back in form based on her works, and drops from Grade 2.

Most pick-six tickets are likely to use the favorites equally, while an 8-1 outsider is worth inclusion on the main track. First-time dirt DRESSED TO A T (9) has turf figures that put her in the mix.

Cal-bred stakes winner ROO'S VALENTINE (6) is a “B” backup.

Race 8 – The field for this second-level allowance turf route is evenly matched. The only way to ensure pick-six survival is “all.” The pace is murky. Program favorite BARLEYSUGAR (2) is up against it as a closer. Second favorite, top choice PLACE DES VOSGES (6), merely won a weak first-level allowance last out. Even the longest shot, THERMODYNAMICS (1), has appeal. She returns to a course/distance on which she is 2 for 4.

It is a cop-out, but perhaps “all” is the best alternative. Six entered.

Race 9 – Vulnerable favorite PASSED BY PAUL (1), ends the sequence. The dropper from maiden-40 to maiden-30 will be under pressure from the rail, has lost six times already, and is compromised by the 6 1/2-furlong distance. Passed by Paul is the best horse, the top choice, but no sure thing.

EDWARDS GOING LEFT (7) was claimed last out by John Sadler; his stats with maidens first off the claim are super (11 for 36 past five years). Edwards Going Left bombed in his debut, but has worked well since the claim. He and the favorite are “A’s.”

MIND READER (2) is a first-time gelding, dropping from maiden special weight, though he might be a total dud. BREEZING (4) has worked well for his debut according to National Turf. Those two are “B’s.”

Post time for race 4, first leg of the pick six, is listed at 2:01 p.m.

Brad Free pick six

A’s, B’s, C’s

Race 4

A = Nine Point Nine (1)
B = Enduring Erin (4)

Race 5

A = Adorned (5)
B = Uninvited (2), Hollywood Strike (4)
C = Seau (1)

Race 6

A = Aguacafe (2), Fabulous Lady (7)
B = Isla City (1)
C = Easy Song (3), Arrowsphere (4), Settle Down Eileen (5), Christmas Carol (6), Ragazza Di Vola (8)

Race 7

A = Skye Diamonds (2), Sheer Pleasure (8), Dressed to a T (9)
B = Roo’s Valentine (6)

Race 8

A = “All”

Race 9

A = Passed by Paul (1) Edwards Going Left (7)
B = Mind Reader (2), Breezing (4)