That parimutuel splash Thursday at Golden Gate Fields is the sound of bettors diving in. Fueled by a $398,294 pick six jackpot and a mandatory payout cleverly scheduled for reopening day, Golden Gate returns with flair. Thursday’s card is the first at Golden Gate since March 29, and though racing will be spectator-free, pick six bettors have voracious appetites. The pool is likely to soar beyond $2 million for the sequence, on races 4 through 9. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter The Golden Gate pick six is a 20-cent wager; the entire net pool and jackpot will be paid Thursday. All six races in the sequence are claiming races (winners and maidens), three are synthetic-surface sprints and three are turf routes, including a potential single. With an assist from Golden Gate racing official and linemaker Steve Martinelli, here is a look at the mandatory payout sequence. Race 4 “The red light is flashing” is track announcer Matt Dinerman’s signature notice that post time is imminent. For pick six bettors in the opening leg, dollar signs will flash. With a massive pool at stake, this 5 1/2-furlong sprint is more significant than a typical $4,000 claiming nonwinners-of-two sprint. Three top contenders are program favorite Lydia O Lydia, a maiden-claiming winner two back; comebacker Real Keeper; and last-out maiden-claiming winner Sarah’s Smirk. Those three employ similar upfront styles, therefore route-to-sprint closers Waverly Way and Tooley Tunes merit consideration on backup tickets. Race 5 Cape Point is the shortest price in the sequence, and a potential single. The class dropper is 9-5 in the $20,000 maiden-claiming turf route, shipping up for Santa Anita-based trainer John Sadler. “With these 4-year-old maidens, and the state we’ve been in, he’s got to find his way,” Sadler said. “He’s a borderline horse, and 20 might be a little cheap, but the race was the first available, so let’s go.” Sadler is 6 for 11 shipping to Golden Gate with favorites the past five years, and Cape Point’s speed figures in winter exceed par for the level. Cape Point is not the only shipper with a chance, as linemaker Martinelli pointed out. “The Southern California horses stood out and are going to take a lot of play,” Martinelli said. “I went back and forth between [Cape Point and Strugar]. I thought Cape Point had fewer question marks.” Strugar, a $900,000 yearling dropping to maiden-claiming and switching to turf for the third start of his career, is the 2-1 second choice. Constitutionaffair, a Southern California shipper with speed, is 5-2 third choice. Race 6 Budget-sized pick six tickets might try to survive this $8,000 claiming sprint by including just two contenders – front-running favorite Diamondsnchampagne and closer Jenpiresstrikesback. Want speed? Diamondsnchampagne has plenty. “She’s tough, especially when she makes the lead at five and a half furlongs,” Martinelli noted. Diamondsnchampagne, who has won five of her last six starts at the distance, opens as the 5-2 favorite. Lightly raced Jenpirestrikesback is the 7-2 second choice. Her off-the-pace win two starts back is plenty fast enough. Backup tickets might include presser Miss Lucky Lager. Race 7 Fillies and mares, $12,500 claiming nonwinners of two, race 1 1/16 miles on turf. Odessa is the 5-2 favorite for the productive combo of trainer Jonathan Wong and jockey Juan Hernandez. Prior to the late-March interruption, their 47 percent win rate (26 for 55) topped the trainer-jockey standings. Class dropper Moonshine Anniewill roll late in a race likely to unfold at a solid pace. Say It With Roses returns to a course on which she ran the two best races of her career. Depending on ticket cost, some bettors may forgo backups in races 7 and 8. Race 8 Golden Gate-based Stand in Your Love, in the money in all three of her starts, is the 3-1 favorite shortening to one turn in this $12,5000 maiden-claiming sprint. Santa Anita-based first-timer Why the Long Face is the 4-1 second choice for trainer Ron Ellis, who has won with six of his last 14 maiden-claiming firsters in Southern California. Breakfast Ball finished a better-than-looked fourth in her debut and can improve second time out. Bettors that can afford backups might consider borderline entrants Beautiful Babe, Jazzy Einstein, and Perfect Mood. Race 9 Racing secretary Patrick Mackey positioned the toughest race in the sequence as the last race. Bettors who are 5 for 5 are guaranteed nothing more than a tough-beat gambling story. That is, unless one can close it out in this $12,5000 claiming turf mile. Class dropper Eldritch is favored at 3-1 and arguably is the best horse. Studly Perfection is Wong first start off the claim, a 59 percent angle (13 for 22) the past six months. Soberano and Conquest Sabre Cat merit backup consideration.