Shapiro: Couple of horses to use, a couple to fade in Santa Anita’s Pick 6 carryover

By SCOTT SHAPIRO

After an extremely challenging weekend for Southern California horseplayers that included four winners paying $16.80 or higher on Sunday afternoon, a two-day carryover of $339,082 will be offered in Santa Anita Park’s Pick 6 pool on Thursday. The six-race sequence commences in Race 3 and is expected to draw a pool that exceeds $1 million.

The six-race slate has a couple of horses I recommend including on your tickets, as well as a duo of vulnerable runners expected to take serious action in the win pool and within the sequence.

Here are my thoughts:

Must uses

Race 5

#1 California Breeze takes the massive drop in class from special weight company into this $50K maiden claimer for trainer Phil D’Amato. The four-year-old filly was in the middle of a three-horse duel in her last start on February 18th where she got the best of the other speeds, but finished third in the end.

The A Venneri Racing runner will have to overcome the inside draw on Thursday, but with a clean break and a traffic-free voyage this daughter of Into Mischief is the one to beat in her third start of the form cycle.

Do not let the narrative of auto tossing runners drawn to the rail down the hill influence your handicapping in this instance.

Race 8

#7 Flynn makes his first lifetime start for trainer Steve Miyadi. Miyadi does not boast great numbers with debut maiden claimers, but he is more than capable with the right animal.

This son of Dixie Chatter has every right to be a runner early since he is out of a Valid Wager mare that won her first two starts and has produced a pair of six-time winners from her only two foals to race.

Flynn comes into his initial try off a solid series of works over the Santa Anita surface and attracts the services of jockey Evin Roman. He may not need to be much to handle this group of Cal-bred maidens.

Do not leave him off your ticket.

Vulnerable short priced horses

Race 3

#1 Here and There makes his second start off the claim for trainer Jeff Metz after a four-length victory sprinting versus lesser on March 17th. The son of Langfuhr enters the first leg of the Pick 6 in fine form, but the stretch out to two turns is concerning.

Not only has Here and There moved to a barn that wins far less frequently on top tier circuits, but there is not much of a reason to believe the added ground will benefit this Virginia-bred.

If jockey Tyler Baze is able to make an uncontested lead from his inside draw perhaps this five-year-old could be tough to get by, but that is unlikely given the presence of my top choice #3 I’ll Wrap It Up.

Leaving the five-year-old off of my Pick 6 tickets at 3-to-1 on the line.

Race 5

#8 Diva La Mousse finally dropped out of special weight company two months ago for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and appeared poised to break her maiden, but tired late over this course to finish second.

The daughter of Hat Trick should once again find herself prominently placed under jockey Evin Roman, but it is hard to look past her inability to hold off the likes of Paddy Jean last time out.

She may put a scare into those fading her in the Pick 6 given her early zip, but I expect her to cave in late at a relatively short price.

Good luck in the massive carryover on Thursday!

You can find my full card Daily Selections every day for the Southern California circuit here: https://www.brisnet.com/product/selections-picks-reports/WDS