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The Thursday Pick-6 at Santa Anita started off to the tune of $27.40, but the hits did not stop there. The next three winners paid $48.20, $25.40 and $48.00. After that it really didn’t matter what happened there was going to be a pick-6 carryover into the Friday card.

Friday’s pick-6 starts in race three, post time 5:02 ET, which is a $25,000 claiming race for four-year-old sprinters. The morning line favorite is Cat in the Forest, who is going first-off-the-claim for trainer Bob Hess Jr. Cat in the Forest comes off a good second place finish in a race one level lower and looks like the one to beat. First; however, he is going to have to catch Runaway Wildcat, who looks to be lone speed. He drops to his lowest level of his career and has two wins, a second and a third in four starts at Santa Anita.

Race six is a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies and Nihilist is going to be tough to beat for trainer John Sadler. Nihilist is making her second career start after finishing second by a half-length in her debut at Del Mar in early September. Others to consider are second-time starter Flashy Dame and debut runner Salt Tequila Lime.

The seventh race is on the turf and will be contested by California-bred or sired maiden fillies. Spring Bloom, trained by John Shirreffs, and Sassy and Single from the Paddy Gallagher barn are the ones to beat in the one-mile race. Speedway Monkey and Always a Chance make their two-turn and turf debut and could hit surprise. Willow Switch and Our Heat are both Unusual Heat fillies trained by Barry Abrams and so can’t be completely counted out.

The back half of the Pick-6 begins with a starter allowance for three-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track. Oh Righty and Forest Souvenir are expected to take a lot of the wagering action and are must-uses on the ticket. Put It There is a maiden taking on winners, but his first race is Southern California was pretty good and he has come back to work well since that run. Hey Yup is an interesting gelding for a trainer who does not run very many and a jockey that does not win very many. In his debut he stalked the early pace before drawing off to win by almost two lengths. The race looks like it has a lot of speed, which will help Hey Yup as well as deep closer Pop the Cork.

Back on the turf for race seven, this time for $40,000 claimers. Golden Mexico is making his first start since early December and is the threat to take them gate-to-wire. The rail out at 15-feet helps his chances, but must be able to out-run the speedy Matto Mondo. Matto Mondo should never run on the dirt as he is winless in four starts on the main track. On the turf it’s another story; however, as the eight-year-old gelding has won eight of his sixteen starts. At the mile distance he is a six-for-nine with one second. Those two are going to need to run their top race if they are going to beat the morning line favorite, Muny. Muny has won eight of nineteen career races including two-for-six at Santa Anita and four-for-seven at the distance. Where’s the Remote is the class dropper in the field and is making his second start off a layoff for a trainer who is hitting at a huge 47% with similar.

The finale is back on the main track with three-year-old maiden, $30,000 claimers going five and one-half furlongs. Royal Alexander drew post twelve, but that’s not a big deal even at the shortened sprint distance. He is 5-2 on the morning line and can win with a pressing trip. Stablemate Idontrollonshabbos is first on the also-eligible list and would become the one to beat if he draws in. If your budget allows then use Tale Be Told, who will be running late, and Mr. Newton, who is looking to get his trainer Dan Hendricks off the sneid. Deeper pockets may consider the second-time starters Bertrando Grande and Mary’s App or the first-time starters Burr Tango and Zander. The two firsters won’t need to be world beaters to take this field and both go for high percentage debut trainers.

The January 19 card at Santa Anita got a little more interesting after a couple of long shots came in on Monday creating a carryover in the Pick-6 of over $107,000. The sequence starts in race three, a claiming sprint race, with a scheduled post time of 5:02 ET.

A field of six goes six furlongs in the pick-6 opener and I Sense Your Luck will be tough on the slight drop in class. In for $20,000 last time I Sense Your Luck finished second with a good run and was over two lengths clear of the third place horse. Maryjean drops from a start allowance race and will get a good stalking trip from the outside.

Race four is a start allowance race going two turns on the main track and drew a field of six. If Ultimate Decision reproduces his last start then it won’t be much of a race. The four-year-old Rock Hard Ten gelding won by over eleven lengths in his last race as the even-money favorite. El Tango Ray is the threat from off-the-pace if Clearance Clarence puts pressure on the top pick.

The fifth race goes to the turf for Cal-bred or sired maiden special weight runners. No one really stands out in the field so use as many as possible. Vonn Nez, Clean Break, The Grans and Lovely Sophia rate on top.

The back half of the pick-6 is another claiming sprint race, this time for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward. Russian River is looking to make amends after two straight losses as the post-time favorite. Three of her four career wins are on the turf and the other on the synthetic so the dirt is still a question mark.

With Filly Power and Dubai Macau Girl in the field the pace of the race is expected to be a good one. The best closers in the race are Victory With Class and Line One. Victory With Class is making her first start in So Cal after running in Canada and Arizona while Line One has not run since June 2011. Subpoena the Dress goes first-off-the claim for a trainer that does not start many, but retains Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

Back on the turf for race seven and Sunburn looks like the mare to beat. She comes off a short layoff, but should be able to run them down late. Meltarib beat the top pick in early December and can make amends with a better trip.

The finale is a maiden claiming race for four-year-olds and upward going six furlongs and drew a competitive field of ten. Marker Down, Father Pabst, Baron Von Red, Relentless Heat, Sky Fox and Apply drop from maiden special weight races and look to be best. Marker Down and Relentless Heat come off of long layoffs so give preference to the other three.

Bull Ring has not run since early December at Hollywood Park, but was second by a nose in his debut and is a Bob Baffert-trainee. It’s a tough way to end the day, but it could be a profitable one.