Pick six carryover at $179K

ARCADIA, Calif. - A pick six carryover of $179,159, the largest single-day carryover of the meeting, highlights Thursday's eight-race program at Santa Anita.

The day's top race is an optional claimer over a mile on turf with a purse of $60,000. Fourteen entered, but the field will be limited to nine because the temporary rails will be set 30 feet out.

, who returned from an eight-month break to win a first-condition allowance race Jan. 11, starts against Rhythm Mad, a French import; Jockey's Dream, a Brazilian import; and Soud, a close second in two similar spots last summer.

Rhythm Mad, now trained by Bruce Headley, was fourth in the Group 2 Prix Niel last September.

was a Group 1 winner in Brazil last March. By Spend a Buck, Jockey's Dream joined trainer Bobby Frankel last fall. Frankel scratched Jockey's Dream from the Thunder Road Handicap on Feb. 11.

"This is a little easier," Frankel said. "So far, everything's been favorable."

The optional claimer is run as the seventh race. The pick six covers the third through eighth races and includes two other optional claimers, two races for maidens, and a sprint for claiming fillies.

The third race is a $52,000 allowance/optional claimer over a mile for 3-year-old California-bred fillies. Allswellthatnswell, a seven-length winner in her debut, stretches out. She must beat Nicole and Ben, who has placed in two statebred stakes.

There are eight 3-year-old maiden fillies in the fourth race. Nifty Lady, beaten a head Jan. 22, could give trainer D. Wayne Lukas his first winner at the meeting. Her toughest competition comes from Linda Belinda and Nor'wester.

In the fifth race, for $25,000 claimers, Home Tour seeks her third win in four starts against nine rival 3-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs. Home Tour is making her first start for trainer Bob Hess Jr., who claimed her for $20,000 on Jan. 28.

There is no standout in the sixth race, an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares. Ela Ela makes her first start since July. She was second in the WinStar Oaks at Sunland Park last March. Icee Cheaspeake, Sister Mary Hugh, and Vegas Folly placed in their last starts.

The last race is run over six furlongs for maiden 3-year-old fillies entered for claiming prices of $28,000 or $32,000. Three are first-time starters, including Cabernet Lassie. She is trained by Craig Lewis and ridden by Mick Ruis, who have teamed to win with longshots in recent months.