Santa Anita: How to bet the $330,681 Pick 6 mandatory payout

Sunday is closing day of the Santa Anita winter/spring meet, which means the lofty $330,681 carryover in the 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 is slated for mandatory payout.

The Pick 6 gets underway at 6:36 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze each leg of the sequence and assemble a play on a ~$100 budget:

Race 6: $20,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs)

#4 Besame Mucho (2-1) has finished second in his last two starts running six furlongs or farther against $20,000 maiden claiming company at Santa Anita. He weakened late on both occasions, so cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs may help his chances. But just in case Besame Mucho gives way again, we’ll use the class-dropping duo of #1 Eleniak (5-2) and #8 Arrest (3-1) as backup.

Race 7: San Juan Capistrano S. (G3, about 1 3/4 miles on turf)

#5 Red King (5-2) has competed in three previous editions of the San Juan Capistrano, sandwiching third-place finishes in 2019 and 2021 around a victory in 2020. He’s a logical choice to reclaim top honors, but don’t overlook #8 Rijeka (7-2), who has won two of his last three starts (both running 1 1/4 miles or farther) for hot trainer Phil D’Amato.

Race 8: $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs on turf)

#4 Fast Buck (5-2) has a ton of tactical speed and is 2-for-2 on turf, dominating a pair of Santa Anita sprints against easier company. He’s a logical choice even while stepping up in class, though stretch-running #5 Southern Horse (4-1) also enters in hot form, and #11 Time to Party (5-1) placed second against a tough sprint field in the Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita last year.

Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (6 1/2 furlongs)

#9 Hero Status (7-2) has placed multiple times against maiden special weight company at Santa Anita and is progressing in a positive direction for hot trainer Mark Glatt. But don’t overlook the first-time starter #1 Multi Platinum (5-1), who has put together a long and flashy work tab for hot trainer Sean McCarthy.

Race 10: Allowance (about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf)

Many of the entrants in this turf sprint for fillies and mares are returning from long layoffs, making the race rather tricky to analyze. We’ll spread deep with #2 Del Mar Drama (6-1), #3 Respectfully (6-1), #4 Speed Lane (4-1), #5 Scenic Masterpiece (8-1), #7 Feathers (5-1), #8 Lalic (6-1), and #9 After Midnight (6-1) in hopes of catching the winner.

Race 11: American S. (G3, one mile on turf)

#3 Vanzzy (7-2) has been sharp since transferring to California under the care of hot trainer Dan Blacker, most recently finishing second in the San Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. But he may meet his match in #2 Hong Kong Harry (4-1), a former British campaigner who has gone 2-for-2 in allowance company since arriving in the United States.

• 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6: 1,4,8 with 5,8 with 4,5,11 with 1,9 with 2,3,4,5,7,8,9 with 2,3 ($100.80)

Good luck!