Good-sized fields for closing day mandatory payout pick six

To conquer the 20-cent Golden pick six at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, bettors must decipher several tricky races on the final day of the six-week meeting.

The bet has a mandatory payout on Sunday. The Golden pick six had a carryover of $17,761 prior to Friday’s program. If there are no single ticket winners on Friday or Saturday, the pool of new money on Sunday could exceed $350,000.

There are certainly plenty of horses to consider. The pick six covers the sixth through 11th races and has fields of 8, 10, 12, 9, 9, and 8 prior to scratches. First post time is 12:45 p.m. Pacific.

Beginning with the first pick six race, bettors on a budget will need to make vital decisions.

The sixth race is an allowance race at a mile on turf with a field of eight fillies and mares. Starship Endeavor, claimed for $20,000 by Blaine Wright on Sept. 9, and With This Vow, claimed for $40,000 by Craig Dollase at Del Mar on Sept. 1, are both dangers from the front, but must avoid a speed duel.

Stoic Luna, who has never started in a one-mile turf race, could be a threat from off the pace.

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Zhivago could be gone strides after the start of the seventh race, a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Steve Specht, Zhivago set the pace in his debut on Sept. 4, but was caught in the final sixteenth.

Zhivago’s main threat among nine rivals is the first-time starter Zaccheus, trained by Jonathan Wong. Zaccheus is by Stanford, who excels with juvenile first-time runners.

The eighth race should be won by Rio King, who is dropping in class from maiden special weight races at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, and Del Mar to a $20,000 claimer for maidens. Poor starts have affected Rio King in recent races. Ring General and The Lonna Ranger have run grass races that put them in contention if Rio King falters.

The ninth race is a $6,250 claiming race at a mile for fillies and mares who have not won twice. Moonshine Cat, Dance of Lady, and Front of Line have recent races that put them at the fore of an open race that will require several selections even for smaller pick six tickets.

The 10th race, a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles on turf, may not require as many options. Table for Two was a troubled second in a maiden race on the synthetic track on Sept. 11, and ran a good third on turf in May. Explain This Audit was third on Sept. 11 after a poor start and should be a factor from off the pace. Tuskegee Cat, recently transferred from Peter Miller at Del Mar to Jonathan Wong, may appreciate the change of venue for his 10th start.

Angel’s Advocate will be well backed in the finale. She won her 2022 debut on Sept. 2 as the even-money favorite in a starter allowance and should handle a rise in class to an allowance race. If the pace is too quick, Mischievous Curlin will be a late threat.

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