Carryover watch: $4,909 Super High 5 at Churchill Downs, $34,824 Pick 6 at Belmont

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a pair of non-jackpot carryovers on Saturday at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.

Churchill Downs, Race 1: $4,909 Super High 5 carryover (12:45 p.m. ET)

The opening race on a stakes-packed Saturday at Churchill Downs is a $30,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on dirt. It’s an enticing race to play because there’s a $4,909 carryover up for grabs in the $1 Super High 5.

There are many viable contenders in the eight-horse field. #2 Megan’s Clara (3-1) missed by less than one length when second in a $30,000 starter allowance at Oaklawn Park last time out. #4 Shell Shock (6-1) enters off victory in a $50,000 starter allowance at Oaklawn. And #6 Candy Caramel (4-1) recently dominated a $30,000 claimer at Oaklawn by 4 1/2 lengths.

But if you’re looking for a nice-priced horse to build tickets around, give #8 Cami Cat (9-2) a try. The four-year-old filly has improved by leaps and bounds in her last two starts. After wiring a $30,000 maiden claimer over the Turfway Park Tapeta track by 4 1/2 lengths, Cami Cat led all the way to smash a $20,000 claimer on dirt at Churchill Downs by 8 3/4 lengths.

Cami Cat was tons the best at Churchill and earned a career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating. Furthermore, she was claimed out of that contest by trainer Alexis Claire, who wins at a lofty 26% rate with new claiming acquisitions. Cami Cat has upside for improvement and looms as an appealing filly to key on top in the Super High 5.

Belmont Park, Race 5: $34,824 Pick 6 carryover (3:03 p.m. ET)

The weekend at Belmont Park kicks off with a $34,824 carryover on the table in the $1 Pick 6.

Looking for a single to build tickets around? Check out Race 8, an allowance for New York-breds racing 1 1/16 miles on dirt. There’s a fair amount of speed in the eight-horse field, which should set the stage for #7 Shadow Dragon (2-1) to deliver a winning performance.

A stretch-running three-year-old colt conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Shadow Dragon spent the winter and spring competing on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3), fifth in the Fountain of Youth (G2), and seventh in the Wood Memorial (G2). Along the way he earned sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 93, 87, and 88, ranking him as one of the fastest horses in Saturday’s field.

Dropping down into an allowance for New York-breds might be all Shadow Dragon needs to visit the winner’s circle under hot jockey Jose Ortiz, a 28% winner at Belmont this meet.

Good luck!