Carryover watch: Tampa's $38,645 Pick 5, Del Mar's $28,426 Super High 5

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a pair of non-jackpot Saturday carryovers at Tampa Bay Downs and Del Mar.

Tampa Bay Downs, Race 5: $38,645 Pick 5 carryover (2:35 p.m. ET)

Saturday’s 50-cent Late Pick 5 at Tampa Bay Downs features an enticing $38,645 carryover.

Looking for a single to build tickets around? Look no further than the opening leg of the sequence. Race 5, a $32,000 allowance optional claimer taking place over five furlongs on turf, has drawn nine entries led by standout favorite #3 Novgorod the Great (7-5).

Novgorod the Great hasn’t missed the trifecta in nine career starts, including three recent runs over this class level at Gulfstream Park. Those efforts (including a pace-pressing victory on Oct. 9) came on Tapeta, but Novgorod the Great also ran well in his lone turf start to date, finishing third in a $50,000 maiden claimer racing one mile at Fair Grounds.

Sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs or less has turned out to be Novgorod the Great’s strong suit; he’s won three of his five starts over sub-six-furlong trips. Along the way, he’s posted excellent Brisnet Speed ratings. Novgorod the Great is bred to thrive on grass and shouldn’t mind switching surfaces on Saturday, setting the stage for victory as a short-priced single.

Del Mar, Race 9: $28,426 Super High 5 carryover (7:30 p.m. ET)

There’s a $28,426 carryover up for grabs in Saturday’s 50-cent Super High 5 at Del Mar. The wager is available to play in Race 9, a $40,000 allowance optional claimer taking place over 1 1/16 miles on turf.

A competitive field of 11 has been entered, and you can make a case for almost anyone to win. So why not think outside the box and play #9 Tio Magico (15-1) on top?

Conditioned by ultra-hot trainer Phil D’Amato (11-for-28, 39% at Del Mar this meet), Tio Magico ran well in a $50,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs at Santa Anita last month. Racing on turf for the first time since May 2021, Tio Magico broke slowly and ran into traffic down the homestretch, but nevertheless gobbled up 4 1/4 lengths in the final furlong to finish third by three-quarters of a length.

Stretching out over 1 1/16 miles should benefit Tio Magico, considering he ran second in the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity on Tapeta as a juvenile. Stablemate #3 Agatino (5-1) also warrants support under high-percentage jockey Flavien Prat, but if we can get Tio Magico home on top at 15-1, we’ll be well on our way to cashing a big Super High 5 payoff.

Good luck!