Keeneland: Horses to single in the $33,629 Pick 6 carryover

Keeneland’s $1 Pick 6 proved unsolvable on opening day, which means there’s an enticing $33,629 non-jackpot carryover on the table for Saturday.

The Pick 6 begins in Race 5 (post time 3:06 p.m. ET) and looks tough to hit. Before scratches, the six-race sequence contains 68 entries and 1,492,992 possible outcomes.

Fortunately, the sequence also features a couple of heavy favorites worth singling to keep ticket costs down. Here are the two singles we recommend:

Race 6: Woodford S. (G2, 5 1/2 furlongs on turf): #4 Golden Pal (4-5)

Golden Pal hasn’t tasted defeat in his last seven U.S. starts, a streak of success highlighted by victories in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) and 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). The speedy son of Uncle Mo boasts a perfect 3-for-3 record at Keeneland and won the 2021 Woodford by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths, so it’s easy to see why Golden Pal is a heavy favorite to repeat in the Woodford.

Golden Pal hasn’t gotten off to the cleanest breaks in his last two starts, but he overcame a tricky trip to win Saratoga’s Troy S. (G3) by a head two months ago and enters off a couple sharp workouts over the Keeneland turf course. If Golden Pal breaks cleanly in the Woodford, his rivals are likely running for second place.

Race 8: First Lady S. (G1, one mile on turf): #5 Regal Glory (6-5)

There are some talented fillies and mares entered in the First Lady. #4 In Italian (3-1) upset the Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga during the summer, and #3 Technical Analysis (5-2) exits a victory Saratoga’s Ballston Spa S. (G2).

But #5 Regal Glory (6-5) is the runner to beat. Between November 2021 and June 2022, Regal Glory rattled off four straight victories against fillies and mares, including impressive scores in the Matriarch S. (G1), Jenny Wiley S. (G1), and Just a Game S. (G1). In the latter race, she easily defeated In Italian.

Regal Glory ran well when challenging males in Saratoga’s Fourstardave H. (G1) two months ago, finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths against three-time Grade 1 winner Casa Creed. Returning to her own division for the First Lady should send Regal Glory back to the winner’s circle.

Good luck!