On Trust 1-2-3 key to $249K carryover

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - An understanding of the on Nov. 14 is vital to conquering a pick six that features a $249,244 carryover on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

The first three finishers of the On Trust - Bestdressed, Enriched, and Star Nicholas - are part of Wednesday's seventh race, an optional claimer over 7 1/2 furlongs. The pick six covers the third through eighth races on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

The pick six includes five sprints, one of which is on turf, and one race at 1 1/16 miles. The bet starts with a maiden claimer for 2-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs and continues with a maiden claimer over 1 1/16 miles, an optional claimer for statebreds over six furlongs, a $35,000 to $40,000 claimer over six furlongs on turf, the optional claimer over 7 1/2 furlongs, and a six-furlong race for $10,500 to $12,500 claimers.

Field sizes vary. The feature has the smallest field, with five runners. The third and fourth races have eight entrants; the sixth and eighth have nine; and the fifth has 11 entrants.

The seventh race favorite is likely to be Bestdressed, who won the On Trust Handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs by 2 1/2 lengths with a last-to-first move in the final three-eighths. Trained by John Sadler for the Great Friends Stable, Bestdressed is entered for an $80,000 claiming price, the first time he has been in for a tag since his current owners claimed him for $50,000 in June. Since then, the 5-year-old gelding has earned $98,316.

Sadler said the race distance is attractive for Bestdressed.

"They don't run that race very often," Sadler said. "When it came back up at 7 1/2, we had to take a chance. We won't get that at Santa Anita. He's too late at six furlongs. We want to take advantage of that."

Star Nicholas was the 3-2 favorite in the On Trust. His third-place finish in that race was preceded by a third in the California Cup Classic in early October. In the On Trust, Star Nicholas closed from sixth to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind Bestdressed.

Trainer Peter Eurton questions whether Star Nicholas gave his best effort in the On Trust.

"I don't think the last race was that taxing on him," Eurton said. "He didn't put out a huge effort that day."

Star Nicholas has done well at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park, having won the 2008 On Trust and finished second in the Tiznow Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap earlier this year.

Enriched was fifth in the Grade 1 Citation Handicap last Friday and is likely to make the quick turnaround to Wednesday's race, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

"He came out of it really great," he said. "It is unorthodox, but I think he is capable. It's a small group, but it's a tough little group."

Enriched, who was third in the California Cup Mile in early October, was claimed by O'Neill for $32,000 on Nov. 1. He was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Bestdressed in the On Trust.

In the Citation, Enriched was an outsider at 43-1 and led by a half-length in the stretch before fading to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind Fluke.

"He's very versatile," O'Neill said. "The fact we're even thinking about going from a Grade 1 to a 7 1/2-furlong race on the main that quickly . . . it's a quick turnaround to say the least, but he's solid. He'll go to the track regardless, and why not do it for purse money?"

The seventh race field also includes Live Sundays and Sangaree.

Live Sundays has won four consecutive races at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita since mid-August for trainer Chuck Jenda. Live Sundays won an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, leading early and holding on by a nose. Wednesday's race will be the longest of his career.

Sangaree has not started since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in August. He won an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles here in June.