Pick six carryover of $148,147 awaits bettors

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If Mother Nature allows, horseplayers will have the opportunity to chase a pick six carryover of $148,147 on Thursday at Aqueduct.

But as of Tuesday, a forecast of 3 to 5 inches of snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning could force officials to cancel Thursday’s eight-race card. There have been 13 full-card cancellations during this interminable winter.

First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern, with the pick six scheduled to begin in race 3 (2:18 p.m.).

Here’s a look at the sequence.

Race 3: With the 14-day rule rescinded, trainer David Jacobson wheels Salisbury Knight (No. 4) back 11 days off a non-effort in a $40,000 optional claimer. Salisbury Knight is dropping to the $12,500 level, and his race three back in the slop over the inner track would take this. Grandpa Len (5) wheels back on seven days’ rest after running fifth for $16,000 and now drops to the level of his last win. Consider using Oghma (8), whose last win came in the slop. He fits at this level.

Race 4: I will use the outside three horses: Here’s Bella (6), Zippity Zoom (7), and Daddy’s Lil Saint (8).

Fresh faces are always welcome at this time of year, and Here’s Bella ships in from California after being purchased privately. She had trouble in a turf start last out and now returns to dirt. She has a win and three seconds in her last four starts on the surface.

Zippity Zoom, trained by Linda Rice, and Daddy’s Lil Saint, returning from a five-month layoff for Bruce Levine, take sharp drops for barns that have been firing lately.

Race 5: You could go as many as five deep in this $50,000 claimer, but I’m likely to just use the trio of Keep Me Grounded (4), Scattered Dreams (7), and Gypsum Johnny (8). Trained by Jacobson, Keep Me Grounded repelled a midstretch challenger in winning his debut. Scattered Dreams had the tougher trip when second to Gypsum Johnny for $32,000. Gypsum Johnny goes first out off the Rice claim. She is 2 for 9 at this meet first off the claim. If you’ve got singles elsewhere, adding B. B.’s Remington (5) or False Positive (3) would be wise.

Race 6: I’m thinking of just using two in here, Unrepented (2) and Jilly Mac (5). Unrepented goes first off the claim for Gary Gullo, who has two wins and three seconds from eight starters first off the claim at this meet. Unrepented was second to the class-dropping Annie Walker in her last start.

Jilly Mac was a perfect-trip winner last out for trainer Jim Ryerson, who has gone 4-1-2 with his last seven starters at the meet.

Prize Taker (1) has been close in her last three but never wins.

Race 7: Longfor the City (2) took a ton of dirt and was pretty game to finish second in just his second start in 14 months when competing in the faster division of a similar race Jan. 25. A forward move makes him dangerous here. Wildniteattheopera (8) had a miserable trip in the final quarter-mile when beaten two lengths in the slower division at this level Jan. 25. Both would benefit if the speedy Pretension (11) draws in from the also-eligible list. If not, Seal Team Four (4) is a threat to wire this field, which he did when beating Wildniteattheopera on Jan. 4.

Race 8: I think only three are capable of winning the finale – Lexsoya (2), Dixie Gem (6), and Letters of Fire (7) – and I’m not sure Dixie Gem is that capable.

Lexsoya was a clear second when sprinting in the mud first off a layoff. Trainer Michelle Nevin is 3 for 5 in the second start off a 180-day layoff over the last two years.