10/21/2008

On the premise that big carryovers translate into big business, racing offices throughout the land are encouraged to do their best to create Pick Six carryovers.

The NYRA racing office for one has responded big-time to the challenge.

With the Pick Six going unhit three straight days last weekend at Belmont, there is a $1 million (and change) carryover awaiting the players on Wednesday, and the six races are, to put it mildly, inscrutable.

Three maiden races, two claimers, and a statebred allowance all boast max fields with not a single in sight. Since five of the six races are scheduled for the grass, management got lucky because there is no rain in sight.

I doubt very much there will be a single horse under 5-2 in the six-pack.

For help, I recommend checking out the red-hot John Piesen Hot Line (888 612 2283) for my top three selections in each race...and do likewise Friday and Saturday for my selections in the 14 Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita.

As for Wednesday, the Pick Six kicks off with race four at 2:36 p.m. Eastern...so let's take a look:

Race Four

You might want to wait to the last minute in order to see which of the five first-starters in the body of 12 are taking action.

The five hail from top barns, notably Levine, Mott and Hennig.

Four of these 2-year-old maidens -- Winthrop House, Distant Strike, Master and Wickaninnish -- coincidentally all have started two times, and all have shown promise.

So do you want to focus on the firsters or the two-time starters?

Tough call.

But aren't they all.

Race Five

More 2-year-old maidens. More grass. But this time we have fillies with numbers next to their names.

The couplings look tough.

Trainer Contessa has Southern Princess, the speed from the outside, and Amber's Edge, who will stalk from the one-hole.

Trainer Ryerson named jockey Garcia on Got That Money and Fancy Asset, so likely will scratch one.

Four of the dozen fillies are firsters -- and all have shown life in the morning. They are Private Citizen (Benzel); Missile Impossible (Alexander); Grand Dynasty (Sciacca), and Kaleidoscope Sky (Hough).

Grand Dynasty (by Grand Slam) is bred and owned by Lee Pokoik, a man of means who can afford to go five years between winners.

He's due.

Race Six

Like most $35,000 claiming races, we have a mixture of off-form horses dropping down, and in-form horses moving up, and shippers from Jersey, Delaware and Red Sox Nation.

Contessa has a power couple in Tempest Storm (the Jockey Club seems to have no problem with naming a horse for a stripper), and Wonderwho'sbest off the claim.

(A third party, Hold That Prospect, is MTO, and will be saved for another day).

Hopefully, trainer Jerkens (One In A Romp) continues to get well following a brief hospital stay.

Knowing The Chief, he has to be ripped over his 1-9-6 record from 33 starters at the meeting.

One In a Romp chased Raffies Treasure last time.

This is a lot easier.

There is a ton of speed in this race so you may want to focus on the closers.

Race Seven

Hard to believe, but this is the only Pick Six race carded at beyond a mile.

The 6-year-old Leadwithyourchin has tons of back class, and returns from a West Coast trip, begging the question: Will Don Draper do likewise?

Leadwithyourchin gets the one-hole, a big edge in a race that starts on the turn.

Riz Sauvage is a rare mount for jockey Pezua, a good guy who would be better off in a legends race.

Hawkinsville makes second start off the claim for trainer Brown, the hottest Bruce out of Jersey since The Boss.

In case you wondered, Bruce Brown learned his craft from John Forbes, and, was Tale of the Cat's lead groom.

T Harry wins every other race.

Parisella drops the 9-year-old Forget the Judge to the lowest level (20K) of his career. Tough if he runs back to that Saratoga '06 race.

Race Eight

This is the only allowance race in the Pick Six sequence, and it pays to note that none of the 11 statebred fillies have ever competed in a seven-furlong grass race.

Most of the so-called figure fillies are bunched on the outside, notably likely favorite Who Is Lady, who goes from apprentice Morales to Sanchez. This would be the first time in her 12-race career that The Lady is The Chalk.

Ex-trainer Brida bred and owns Doree Daze, who steps up off maiden blowout from tough post.

That said, this race looks like a landmine for any Pick Sixers who happen to be alive.

Race Nine

After five turfers, here we are on the main track, a max field of 2-year-old statebred maiden fillies.

Prado is named on Dutrow firsters Beauty by George and My Cruiser, so one will scratch...and the other no doubt will be claimed.

Tony D. meantime has the in-form speed from the outside in Irish Mama.

Jockey Coa rides firster Deadlocked for Gary Gullo rather than firster Beach Buggy for main man Tagg.

Angel Aly the lone dropper in the field.

And while we are talking Pick Sixes, there is a 100K carryover going begging Wednesday at Santa Anita.

And, speaking of Santa Anita, on Monday, Curlin worked a half in :49 and change for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic. The entries for the Classic and the other 13 BC races will be drawn late Tuesday.

Good luck...and go Rays.

The Price is right.