Carryover watch: Aqueduct's $50,013 Pick 6, Keeneland's $8,599 Super High 5

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a pair of Saturday carryovers at Aqueduct and Keeneland.

Aqueduct, Race 5: $50,013 Pick 6 carryover (2:44 p.m. ET)

The $1 Pick 6 at Aqueduct has tossed up a $50,013 carryover for Saturday’s stakes-packed card.

The feature event of the afternoon is the one-mile Kelso H. (G2), which happens to serve as the opening leg of the Pick 6. A compact six-horse field has turned out for the Kelso, and at first glance #6 Baby Yoda (6-5) looks like a possible single.

Baby Yoda was miles the best in an $80,000 allowance optional claimer over this track and distance on Oct. 7, pressing the pace before drawing off to dominate by 10 3/4 lengths with a strong 104 Brisnet Speed rating. But here’s an oddity worth noting: Baby Yoda is 7-for-8 in non-stakes races and 0-for-6 in stakes. Jumping up in class has been problematic for Baby Yoda, so it’s hard to trust him at a short price in the Kelso.

Perhaps #3 Morello (4-1) can spring a mild upset as the third choice on the morning line. The talented three-year-old opened his career with three consecutive victories at Aqueduct, including a 4 1/2-length romp racing one mile in the Gotham S. (G3).

Morello suffered a hoof injury when finishing sixth in the Wood Memorial (G2) and struggled again when sixth in the Woody Stephens S. (G1), prompting a two-month break from serious training. But Morello got back on the work tab in August and bounced back to the winner’s circle in a $55,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs on Oct. 8 at Laurel Park, rallying from last place to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Returning to Aqueduct and stretching back out over one mile should set the stage for Morello to deliver a career-best performance. Even if Baby Yoda brings his A-game, Morello may be capable of springing a surprise to start the Pick 6.

Keeneland, Race 10: $8,599 Super High 5 carryover (5:48 p.m. ET)

The final race on Saturday at Keeneland boasts an $8,599 carryover in the $1 Super High 5. It’s not the largest carryover you’ll ever see, but it’s a non-jackpot offering that looks reasonably straightforward to play.

That’s because morning-line favorite #1 Illegal Smile (8-5) looks like a standout, even while facing a large field in a 5 1/2-furlong grass allowance. Conditioned by hot trainer Wesley Ward (a 36% winner at Keeneland this meet), Illegal Smile boasts a perfect 2-for-2 record over the Keeneland turf course, winning 5 1/2-furlong allowance sprints in the fall of 2021 and the spring of 2022.

Illegal Smile has been competing against stakes company on the New York circuit of late, running fifth by two lengths in the Intercontinental S. (G3) before placing third by less than a length in the Smart N Fancy S. She’s posted five straight Brisnet Speed ratings in the 90-96 range, so returning to Keeneland and dropping back into the allowance ranks should send Illegal Smile to the winner’s circle. We recommend keying her on top of a Super High 5 ticket like this one:

• $1 Super High 5: 1 with 6 with 3,5,7,11 with 3,5,7,8,9,11 with 3,5,7,8,9,11 ($80)

Good luck!