How to bet Santa Anita's mandatory-payout $418,628 Rainbow Pick 6

Get ready! A $418,628 carryover in Santa Anita’s Rainbow Pick 6 is slated for mandatory dispersal on Saturday, and the final pool for the 20-cent wager may reach the vicinity of $4 million.

The six-race sequence (first post time 5:05 p.m. ET) is both competitive and classy, with a quartet of stakes on the schedule. Let’s take a race-by-race look at the Rainbow Pick 6 and plan a ticket in the $60-70 range:

Race 5: $50,000 Maiden Claiming (six furlongs)

#8 Arthur Spooner (3-1) looks like the best of the experienced runners after placing twice over this class level. But we’ll try to beat him with the unraced #5 Smiling Goodbye (5-2), who has compiled a solid work tab for trainer Dean Pederson, a 21% winner with horses debuting in maiden claimers.

Race 6: Unusual Heat Turf Classic S. (1 1/8 miles on turf)

You can make a case for many contenders in this competitive two-turn turf test, so we’ll spread deep with #1 Whooping Jay (6-1), #2 Margot’s Boy (4-1), #3 Aligato (7-2), #5 Camino Del Paraiso (7-2), #6 Big Fish (8-1), and #8 Indian Peak (3-1) in hopes of catching a nice-priced winner.

Race 7: $20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs)

#4 Gates of Heaven (3-1) looks like the horse to beat for hot trainer Ruben Alvarado, since he’ll be squaring off against California-breds after winning an open $50,000 starter allowance at Los Alamitos. But #1 Admirably (4-1) and #8 Crash Corrigan (7-2) also have the form lines and Brisnet Speed ratings to challenge against this caliber of competition.

Race 8: Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint S. (6 1/2 furlongs on turf)

#9 Warren’s Showtime (5-2) is a picture of consistency with 22 trifecta finishes from 24 starts. But although Warren’s Showtime won the California Distaff H. over this course and distance three starts back, she’s more of a miler than a sprinter. #12 Leggs Galore (3-1), who defeated Warren’s Showtime in a six-furlong version of this race last year, has upset potential if she brings her A-game off a five-month layoff.

Race 9: Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint S. (six furlongs)

#3 Brickyard Ride (9-5) is a brilliant sprinter on his best day, but he’s not the most consistent horse in training and hasn’t run since August. If he falters off the layoff, #7 Principe Carlo (6-1) and #8 Colt Fiction (3-1)—first and third in the Cary Grant S. at Del Mar—are logical alternatives.

Race 10: California Cup Oaks (one mile on turf)

#7 Professors’ Pride (5-2) dominated the one-mile Soviet Problem S. at Los Alamitos last month, but the undefeated filly has never run on turf. If she falters while switching surfaces, perhaps stakes-placed #3 Vivacious Vanessa (4-1) or flashy debut winner #11 Rose Dawson (7-2) can challenge at better prices.

• 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6: 5 with 1,2,3,5,6,8 with 1,4,8 with 9,12 with 3,7,8 with 3,7,11 ($64.80)

Don't forget about Turfway Park!

While Santa Anita's massive Pick 6 is the obvious highlight, it's not the only enticing carryover on the Saturday agenda. Turfway Park will join in on the action with a $17,098 Super High 5 carryover up for grabs in Race 8, a $30,000 maiden claimer (post time 9:46 p.m. ET). 

A huge field has been entered, but overall, the 6 1/2-furlong sprint appears fairly straightforward to handicap. We’ll favor the chances of #12 House Wrecker (6-1), a speedy filly conditioned by hot trainer Ben Colebrook. After finishing second in a $30,000 maiden claimer at Keeneland, House Wrecker ran well over the same class level in her Turfway debut, carving out a quick pace before weakening late to finish third.

If House Wrecker uses her tactical speed to clear the field and avoid a wide trip, she can sprint to victory at a nice price. We’ll key her on top in the Super High 5, while emphasizing #2 H. T. Xena (9-2), #3 Lovely June (7-2), and #7 Rutabaga (6-1) underneath.

• $1 Super High 5: 12 with 2,3,7 with 2,3,7 with 2,3,7,8,10 with 2,3,7,8,9,10 ($54)

Good luck!