Wide-open race starts pick six with three-day carryover
Although favorites are winning at a 37 percent clip at the meet, not enough of them have come through for pick six bettors recently, and a three-day carryover of $321,859 has been sitting on ice since Sunday, when one live ticket to the favored Slan Abhaile fell by the wayside in the last leg.
The weather forecast for Wednesday calls for fair skies and seasonable temperatures, with little chance of rain. Four races in the pick six are scheduled for turf; the temporary rails will be 27 feet out on the Widener and at 18 feet on the inner course. Assuming no dirt-only runners, the pre-scratch field sizes are 12, 7, 9, 8, 7, and 10. The sequence begins with race 4 at 2:53 p.m. Eastern. Here is an overview:
Race 4 – Morning-line favorite Private Relations is on the outside looking in and will need a scratch from the main body of this maiden-claiming turf mile to crack the field. Failing that, the race is up for grabs among Chrishi, who has been gelded since six in-the-money finishes at Tampa Bay Downs; Mission Driven, who finished fast despite lugging in first time on turf at Churchill Downs; and Key to the Bridge, who also makes his local bow after eventful trips at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland. Add in the Chad Brown-trained newbie Risk Reversal, and you have the makings of an inscrutable spread race right off the bat.
Race 5 – Brown’s uncoupled duo of Kitten’s Roar and Ayaady face off against Clutchingatstraws, a first-time Lasix import for Christophe Clement, in this preliminary allowance route on the inner turf. Path and Tela come off their best efforts so far, while My Sweet Girl gets a softer assignment after running a wide fifth in the Wonder Again behind the unbeaten Lady Eli.
Race 6 – The old adage says never take a short price on a horse doing something it’s never done before. But many bettors might ignore that advice and single Lakeside Sunset in this first-level allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares. She stretches out to 1 1/16 miles after leading at the stretch call in two sprint stakes – the Belle Harbor against multiple stakes winner Irish Jasper and the Bouwerie against Quezon, last year’s Maid of the Mist winner who has toyed with statebreds in three such attempts.
Those who desire backups will gravitate toward Geraldine and/or Shades of Indygo.
Race 7 – Manofmanyvirtues is a potential trip playback after the stalker/closer was hustled up from the rail into a three-way pace skirmish and held tenaciously to deep stretch on short rest. He’ll likely revert to rating tactics given the presence of Decent, who steps up and stretches out to a longer sprint after wiring maidens through fast splits. Madam I’m Adam and Dendrite are 5 and 6 years old and still eligible for non-winners of two but may rate inclusion in backup modes.
Race 8 – The featured $85,000 optional claimer attracted seven fillies and mares going after their third-level allowance condition, headed by La Madrina, who was victimized by a slow pace while chasing 1-5 shot Room for Me in her seasonal debut for Shug McGaughey. The likeliest alternatives are Catch My Drift, narrowly beaten by Humana Distaff and Bed o’ Roses winner Dame Dorothy in the Turnback the Alarm here last fall, and Lunar Surge, who has kept company with Grade 3 types recently.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Natalie Victoria. Trainer Michelle Nevin is 16-5-0-5 with a $2.84 ROI over the past two years on the NYRA circuit with horses returning in seven days or less. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Holiday’s Jewel. Trainer Mitchell Friedman is 14-3-1-1 with a $7.25 ROI over the past two years going turf to dirt in routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Race 9 – Unforgettable Mark, Ferzetti, and Purrfectly Mine have shown the most ability on grass among these New York-bred maiden-claiming fillies. Autumn Squall, Green Treasure, and Opie try the grass with suitable pedigrees.
