Del Mar: Singles for the $405,172 mandatory-payout Pick 6 carryover

The Saturday card at Del Mar is epic. There are five graded stakes on the agenda, including the Pacific Classic (G1), and all five are contained within a 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 sequence featuring the mandatory payout of a $405,172 carryover.

Deciphering the Pick 6 won’t be easy, since every race contains a minimum of 10 horses and there are 2,178,000 possible outcomes before scratches. In order to play a competitive ticket on a reasonable budget, we’ll have to identify at least one trustworthy single to build tickets around.

So who’s the best single? We recommend #10 Ceiling Crusher (3-1) in Race 8, the Torrey Pines (G3) for three-year-old fillies racing one mile on dirt. The scratch of morning line favorite #9 Faiza (8-5) should make Ceiling Crusher's task a lot easier.

Ceiling Crush won her first four starts against California-bred competition and was particularly dominant in the Evening Jewel S. and Melair S. during the spring at Santa Anita, winning by margins of 15 1/2 lengths and 17 lengths. Those blowout victories yielded strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 95 and 99, with the 99 ranking as the highest number belonging to any filly in the Torrey Pines field.

Ceiling Crusher misfired in the seven-furlong Fleet Treat S. at Del Mar last time out, finishing third as the heavy favorite, but she was involved in early bumping while cutting back from 1 1/16 miles to seven furlongs. Stretching back out in trip for the Torrey Pines can help Ceiling Crusher rebound as a Pick 6 single.

Need another single? #7 Dr. Venkman (5-2) is a compelling choice in Race 6, a $40,000 allowance optional claimer taking place over seven furlongs on dirt. The three-year-old gelding trounced a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar last month by 5 1/4 lengths, earning a sharp 96 Brisnet Speed rating. A repeat can send him to the winner’s circle under Del Mar’s leading jockey Juan Hernandez.

Bonus carryover: $1,305 Pick 6 at Colonial Downs

The Saturday card at Colonial Downs brings a $1,305 non-jackpot carryover in the $1 Pick 6.

The sequence gets underway in Race 5, a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies racing one mile on turf. #3 Coach Sessa (3-1) is a logical favorite after rallying to finish second in a maiden special weight for New York-breds at Saratoga, but we also have to highlight #1 No Consequences (10-1) as a live longshot worth supporting.

No Consequences enters off sharp workouts for red-hot trainer Shug McGaughey, who has gone 5-for-10 (50%) at Colonial Downs this meet. Since 2020, McGaughey has gone 2-for-4 (50%) saddling first-time starters over the Colonial turf, so there are plenty of reasons to believe No Consequences can produce a winning run on debut.

Good luck!