Another Friday means more carryovers at Santa Anita Park! The Sunset Pick 6 was unsolved last Sunday leaving horseplayers with a $17,993 carryover in the two-track $1 wager, while the same was true of the traditional $2 Pick 6 in California where there is $45,602 in free money awaiting. Frank Carulli has you covered on the Sunset Pick 6.
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 4:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 3 Allequin Summer; 1 Fionello
Backups: None
Forecast: The sequence kicks off with this state-bred first level allowance event at 6-furlongs over the main track where I am expecting a contentious early pace. This should bode well for a pair of runners, including top choice #3 Allequin Summer. The Son of Summer Front raced in Kentucky against open company foes to kick off his career, but made his first start out west on February 14 and won convincingly with the addition of blinkers for the initial time. Trainer Paula Capestro retains the services of Mirco Demuro. Demuro is a rider worth following. Hopefully, he springs the upset to get things rolling.
Race 5:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 7 Adverse Selection; 5 Pure Chaos
Backups: None
Forecast: I will also go two-deep in this state-bred MSW event over the lawn where I am hoping one of two fillies exiting a race on January 11 earn their first lifetime score. #7 Adverse Selection is the 5-2-ML favorite after making a big run in that aforementioned 6-furlong affair almost two months ago. She has plenty of questions to answer given her lack of early speed and experience around two-turns thus far, but has plenty of upside and meets a modest group. I will use her along with #5 Pure Chaos. The daughter of Sir Prancealot makes her first start in the Richard Baltas barn after missing by a neck in the same spot the chalk exits. She has two-turn experience, but also has been exposed. I still like her chances to run a big one in her first route try since last October.
Race 6:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 6 Galloping Ghost; 3 Positive Times
Backups: 7 One Step Beyond
Forecast: I lack a meaningful opinion in this 6.5-furlong sprint for protected Cal-bred maidens over the main track. #3 Positive Times has speed, but has yet to show the ability to finish with significant energy. That said, he has a chance to make a loose lead and be tough to catch to late. I slightly prefer #6 Galloping Ghost. The Grazen gelding makes just his second career start after a slow break on debut in the same race Positive Times exits. The Craig Lewis trainee took a solid amount of support in that first try and should have more to give after gaining invaluable experience last month.
Race 7:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Twirling Point
Backups: 6 City Exile
Forecast: I also lack creativity in this 9-furlong turf race for first-level allowance foes where I landed on 5-2-second choice #2 Twirling Point. The Augustin Stable runner makes his second start of the year after battling early and tiring late in the 10-furlong San Marcos (G3) in mid-February. Antonio Fresu rode him that day and is back aboard here. I am hopeful he gets aggressive given the lack of early speed entered. Either way, I expect him to sit a favorable trip, perhaps stalking just off the pace of #1 Wizard of Westwood. If they go at it more than I anticipate, #6 City Exile is the one that is likely to pick them up. The son of Cityscape beat significantly softer competition on February 1, but did it well. He makes his second start off the claim for trainer George Papaprodromou.
Race 8:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4 Joint Venture
Backups: None
Forecast: I will take a stand in this optional claimer over the main track with #4 Joint Venture. The Mizzen Mast gelding stretches back out to a route of ground after a late running third to shake off the rust going 6-furlongs in mid-February. The Ron Ellis trainee has been at his best going two-turns and should get a favorable trip off a lively early pace. Jockey Welfin Orantes has struggled at the meet, but I am hopeful he can navigate a clean trip on the best horse to kick off the late Double.
Race 9:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Bad to the Bones; 9 Bolt Supremacy
Backups: 5 Six Magpies
Forecast: It is difficult to have confidence in any of the 9 entered in this $25k non-winners of two claimer over the grass, but I am willing to take on the chalk. 2-1-ML favorite #4 Silly Rabbit will attract a lot of money given the competition and his early speed, but struggled to seal the deal last out despite having things his way. He is almost a certainty to get overused in the sequence. I will toss and use a few in hopes of beating a short-priced horse to conclude the day.
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