Free's preview: One tough pick six

DEL MAR, Calif. – The main track slowed down Wednesday, probably due to the wax application on Tuesday. Final times were about a second slower than the previous week.

Notwithstanding times, Polytrack played fair (and safe, apparently). Winners came from inside and outside, forwardly placed and from behind. It did not matter. The best horses won. Expect more of the same Thursday – a bias-free surface.

Three turf races were run Wednesday without incident, all won by one of the first two choices. The turf rails were at 18 feet, no apparent bias. An upset by a $20,000 maiden-claimer in the main-track finale ($99.60 Espirito Bueno) generated a $59,127 pick six carryover to Thursday.

Now is a good time to look at the sequence, on races 3-8.

SPREAD, race 3
This $16,000 claiming sprint, restricted to non-winners of three races lifetime, is a tough way to start. Nine entered, the only toss is 20-1 Green Dolphin (too slow, eligible for an easier race).

This handicapper’s 1-2-3-4s are The Cleaners (3-1 favorite), Sheer Talent, Valdirone and Valentine Boy. But the other four have borderline attributes – Hope ’n Pray, Luz Atticus, Innocent Man (likely pacesetter, wheeling back in six days) and Zippingaroundtown (entered not to be claimed).

Pick-six bettors that do not mind going eight deep in the first leg will dive right in. For the rest of us, the first leg might be reason enough to skip the wager entirely.

SINGLE, race 4
Ultimate Holiday ran super first out, a five-furlong sprint at Los Alamitos. She went even-paced while chasing a blazing front-runner, and narrowed the gap late to finish third. The Harlan’s Holiday filly has the physique and style that screams two turns.

The 2-year-old filly gets it in this one-mile maiden race. The only hitch is the race is on turf. It would be less nerve-wracking if the race were on the main track. Polytrack is the surface on which she worked a super three-quarters only eight days ago.

Ultimate Holiday, trained by Richard (Big Macher) Baltas, was timed in 1:12.80. According to National Turf clocker Andy Harrington, Joe Talamo was up. The filly finished “full of run.” It was a big workout by an improving filly, the 5-2 favorite.

A note about race-4 entrant Awesome Diamond, sired by Galileo She is the seventh named foal produced by 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Adoration. Only one of the first six won. That was Eishin Galilei, a full bother to Awesome Diamond who required 10 starts before winning a race in Japan.

One year ago, Awesome Diamond’s trainer, Patrick Biancone, won a 2-year-old maiden turf route with Diamond Bachelor. He was purchased at Barretts for $570,000. Awesome Diamond was purchased at Barretts for $625,000. That is where the similarities end. If the filly wins first out, consider it a surprise. Meanwhile, Ultimate Holiday looks like a single.

IMPOSSIBLE, races 5-6
Race 5 is a $62,500 maiden-claiming sprint. It is wide open. Sing With Bling is this handicapper’s top choice with minimal conviction. Dragon Attack and Silver Torch are first-time geldings. This is another race in which a pick-six bettor would need to go deep.

Race 6 is a maiden-40 starter allowance for fillies and mares. From a single-race gambling perspective, On Golden Pawn is worth a play at or above her 4-1 morning line. She makes her third start back from a layoff, has a pressing style that should lead to a good trip, and her slow workouts will scare many.

However, “bad workouts” are not a concern when it comes to trainer Marty Jones. His horses rarely work fast. They often work slowly. No problem. On Golden Pawn is a potential gamble. But is she a “likely winner” to single in a pick six? Nope. If she misses, it is anyone’s race.

POSSIBLE, races 7-8
Upbeat Mood has a lot going for her in race 7, a turf sprint for entry-level allowance fillies and mares. She has speed, her figures are the highest in the field, she has trained well and should come back firing first start in two months. She is trained by Mike Puype, her rider Tyler Baze is tied with Kent Desormeaux for the lead in the jockey standings.

Upbeat Mood ought to win race 7. That is, if she remembers how. Since her maiden victory in June 2012 she has started eight times – three seconds, two thirds and three out of the money. Trust her? Perhaps not.

Race-8 starter Faith Proof returns from a six-month layoff with a big workout here one week ago. It was a 59.60 gate work under jockey Elvis Trujillo. Faith Proof is 5-1 in this $20,000 maiden-claiming sprint. His odds will drop. He is the one to beat.

Will there be a double carryover into Friday? One can hope.