Mandatory-payout Golden pick six has $54K carryover

Three sprints followed by three races around two turns make up the 20-cent Golden pick six, which has a mandatory payout at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

The comeback of former leading rider Evin Roman from a wrist injury sustained in November will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the pick six. Roman has leading contenders in four of those races.

The pick six pool begins with a carryover of $54,818 from Sunday. On Friday’s eight-race program, the pick six comprises the third throughout eighth races on a card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Pacific.

In the third race, a $25,000 claimer for fillies and mares at five furlongs, Roman rides Lagatha, a three-time winner in 2022. Lagatha has won two of her last three starts, both from the front, but can be a factor from a stalking position if Lotsa Pepper zooms away from the gate from an inside post, as expected.

Roman rides Knockout Bert in a field of seven in a $3,200 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs in the fourth race. Knockout Bert, who drew the rail, is one of several contenders in the field along with Zero Bucks Given and Rhodium Runner.

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Lemon Drop Shot, winless in 11 starts, will be favored to achieve an overdue first win in a $25,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs in the fifth race. Second seven times, Lemon Drop Shot was second and fourth in maiden races for statebreds at Del Mar and Los Alamitos in November and December after a 10-month layoff for trainer Jonathan Wong. Roman rides Lemon Drop Shot for the first time since a fourth-place finish last January.

Pollo d’Oro, who can race near the front, and the longshot Sixtyfour G T O are others for pick six bettors to consider.

My Sunshine, a 6-year-old gelding who has not raced since March, will be favored to win a conditioned $4,000 claimer at a mile in the sixth race. My Sunshine, who will be ridden by Armando Ayuso, raced for higher claiming prices last February and March and can win from a tracking position. Awe, a 10-year-old gelding, won as recently as August and can be a factor from off the pace.

In the seventh race, Roman has the mount on Clockstrikestwelve in an allowance race at a mile. Third in the Miss America Stakes for fillies and mares on Dec. 11, Clockstrikestwelve was second to Madeira Wine in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 7. Madeira Wine, who is also entered in Friday’s seventh race, set a dawdling pace in that race and should face more of a test on the front in this field of seven.

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Ghostly Gal is not without a chance from a stalking position.

In the eighth race, a conditioned $8,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles, Bronze Warrior will be well backed after a troubled fourth in a $12,500 claimer on Jan. 6. Walking Boss, who drew the outside post in a field of eight, will be closing in his first start since being claimed for $4,000 out of a win on Jan. 7.

Walking Boss will be ridden by Irving Orozco, who was aboard on Jan. 7.

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