Chasing lucrative Pick 6 carryovers at Keeneland, Santa Anita

A giant Saturday of racing just got even better. Keeneland has a $53,845 Pick 6 carryover up for grabs, while Santa Anita has scheduled the mandatory payout of a $391,547 Rainbow Pick 6 jackpot.

Let’s check out both sequences:

Keeneland, Race 4: $53,845 Pick 6 carryover (2:15 p.m. ET)

The stakes-packed Pick 6 carryover at Keeneland culminates with the Blue Grass (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Let’s assemble a ticket for $36:

Race 4: $100,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs)

#4 Manny Wah (3-1) won the Phoenix (G2) and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to wrap up 2022. He’s 0-for-3 this season, but dropping out of the stakes ranks can help him rebound. Other contenders worth using include #2 Sir Alfred James (9-2), #5 Three Technique (7-2), and #6 Fortin Hill (6-1).

Race 5: Commonwealth (G3, seven furlongs)

#7 Run Classic (3-1) is cutting back in distance off a game third in the Mineshaft (G3) racing 1 1/16 miles. His 3-2-1-0 record sprinting includes an 8 1/4-length demolition of an $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Keeneland last fall, so we’ll single Run Classic on the return to sprinting.

Race 6: Appalachian (G2, one mile on turf)

A slow pace compromised #3 Cairo Consort (3-1) in the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream last month, but she nevertheless unleashed a furious late rally to finish third by a neck. Cairo Consort previously won the Sweetest Chant (G3) and Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream and placed in multiple Grade 1 races last season, so we’ll make her a Pick 6 single.

Race 7: Madison (G1, seven furlongs)

#2 Goodnight Olive (2-5) has won six straight races by daylight margins. She’s 2-for-2 at Keeneland, most notably winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) over this track and distance last fall. She’s fired fresh off layoffs in the past and is a viable Pick 6 single.

Race 8: Shakertown (G2, 5 1/2 furlongs on turf)

The mare #8 Caravel (8-5) is 2-for-2 over the Keeneland turf course and beat males when wiring the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) here last fall. She’s a win threat off the layoff, though we’ll include #3 Artemus Citylimits (5-1) and #5 Mister Mmmmm (6-1) as backup.

Race 9: Blue Grass (G1, 1 1/8 miles)

#1 Tapit Trice (5-2) is a logical favorite after unleashing a big late rally to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), but the slow-starting colt risks a troubled trip while breaking from the rail in a large field. We’ll also include last year’s Champagne (G1) 1-2 finishers #8 Blazing Sevens (6-1) and #3 Verifying (3-1).

• $1 Pick 6: 2,4,5,6 with 7 with 3 with 2 with 3,5,8 with 1,3,8 ($36)

Santa Anita, Race 7: $391,547 Pick 6 mandatory payout (6:20 p.m. ET)

The 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 sequence at Santa Anita encompasses the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), an intriguing race in which #5 Faiza (9-5) is the favorite.

Faiza is unbeaten in four starts, including wins in the Starlet (G1), Las Virgenes (G3), and Santa Ysabel (G3). The latter victory came by 2 1/4 lengths over Grade 1 winner #8 And Tell Me Nolies. Faiza’s credentials are formidable, and she figures to be a single on some Pick 6 tickets.

But don’t count #3 Clearly Unhinged (4-1) out of the mix. She carved out a fast pace in her debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita before pulling clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths. That’s significant since trainer Michael McCarthy wins only 9% of the time with first-time starters. McCarthy trainees typically improve once they get a race under their belt, and Clearly Unhinged has trained up a storm in preparation for the Santa Anita Oaks, suggesting she has a shot to surprise against Faiza.

Good luck!