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.


