Ho, ho, ho! A two-day pick-six carryover

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - On the second day of Christmas, the Big A gave to you, a chance to pay off all those holiday bills.

When racing returns to Aqueduct Wednesday following a 10-day break, there is a pick-six carryover of $161,694 because there were no winning tickets sold on the wager on both Dec. 14 and 15. On Dec. 12, there was a two-card pick-six carryover of $205,698 and an additional $851,947 was bet. In a fairly logical sequence that day, there were 53 winning tickets sold, each paying $12,922.

Here's a look at Wednesday's sequence on a track expected to be dry:

Fourth race: The tote board may offer some clues in this maiden sprint for fillies and mares going six furlongs since there are first-time starters from strong connections. Trainer Tom Albertrani sends out More Than Thunder, who shows decent works and attracts jockey Eibar Coa. Hatta Diamond, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is a half-sister to six winners, including Willow Place, a first-out winner. Lookie Cookie, trained by Bruce Levine, is by Mr. Greeley out of the mare Olympic Champion, who won first out. Levine says his filly is "just fair."

Wild Garden finished second in her debut, breaking a tad slowly from the rail. However, five of the horses from that race have run since and were all soundly beaten, and Wild Garden draws the rail again.

Fifth race: Not much talent in this first-level New York-bred allowance for fillies going one mile. Alyssa the Dancer has run well in both of her starts, losing by three-quarters of a length when fourth in her debut, then winning an off-the-turf maiden race at a mile. She is ridden by Coa and trained by McLaughlin, who connect at a high percentage as a team.

Golden Manna is 1 for 18, but she has run well over the inner track and did win two starts back. Knownowthisistrue looks like a send with C.C. Lopez and a bullet work in tow.

Sixth race: Horseplayers may rely on connections in this $15,000 claiming race for horses that have never won two races. Elirose, trained by Tony Dutrow, makes her first start for a tag and shows two decent races over the inner track last winter. Richard Dutrow Jr. drops Hunsley Bunsley after claiming her for $25,000 last out. Gary Contessa sends out the entry of New York Citi, who won a statebred maiden $35,000 claimer last out, and Country Leitrim, who drops after being claimed for $25,000. A potential longshot is Katnik, who won off works when bet to 7-2 in her debut last May.

Seventh race: Jet Setting, a sharp debut winner at Saratoga but not seen since, will likely be a single on many player's tickets. She showed speed in rolling to a 4 3/4-length win, but also shows a spotty work tab since October. Spread tickets will likely include the Tony Dutrow entry of La Ransom and City of Lights and Richard Dutrow Jr.'s Jovanna, who stumbled badly at the break in a Nov.o29 allowance.

Eighth race: A solid third-level allowance sprint marks the return to the races of Special Dream, who won the Dearly Precious here by eight lengths last Feb. 17. She has not raced since finishing third March 24 in the Grade 3 Cicada - also over the inner track - but shows a solid work tab for Philadelphia-based trainer Guadalupe Preciado.

She will have to catch Beau Dare, trained by Levine, who returns to the dirt after two near-wins in turf sprint stakes at the Meadowlands.

"I think she'll dirt," Levine said. "My plan was always to run her on dirt, but I didn't want to give up one those turf stakes."

Ninth race: If you're alive entering this statebred maiden claimer, you will not feel comfortable unless you've punched the all button.

Fiddlers Warrior (0 for 17) and Noteventheshadow (0 for 4) have both been second at this level, but are drawn outside. Turnupthevolume is first-time tag and blinkers on off of a lengthy layoff, while Bumble had tough trip when beaten only 6 1/4 lengths sprinting last month.