Pick Six Is Wager of Choice

Bettors who like to play the pick six are advised to bring a sizable bankroll to the track today and arrive early.

Not only is there a $205,959 carry-over in Santa Anita’s pick six, there is also a decent carry-over at Gulfstream Park and a more modest one at Golden Gate Fields.

When no one was able to isolate all six winners in the sequence Monday at Gulfstream, more than $82,000 was carried into today. A two-day carry-over at Golden Gate Fields means there is more than $39,000 already up for grabs at the northern California track.

Blessed with good weather and large fields, Santa Anita has had a slew of carry-overs, and there certainly are no free spots in the last six races on today’s card, most of which are wide-open and short on quality. The sequence begins with older, California-bred fillies and mares running for a $10,000 claiming price and there are also two maiden claimers.

At Gulfstream Park, where the pick six is offered on races 4-9 today, those looking for a single might zero in on Siringas. An Irish-bred filly trained by sharp trainer Christophe Clement and ridden by Jerry Bailey, she will make her first start since a nose loss on Oct. 26 at Belmont Park in the seventh, a turf race at 1 1/16 miles.

An interesting shipper in the Golden Gate pick six is Artic Explorer. A half-brother of Appeal The Call, the 3-year-old gelding won at first asking at Santa Anita for trainer Cliff Sise, beating next-out winner Benderosa. Artic Explorer will be ridden by Jason Lumpkins and probably will be the favorite in the sixth.

Race of the day: Invisible Ink, best known for finishing second in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, will make his first start as a 4-year-old in today’s eighth at Gulfstream Park.

Who’s hot: The jockeys’ race at Santa Anita. Kent Desormeaux tightened things considerably with a big week and trails Alex Solis, 55-52.

Who’s not: Mel Stute. The trainer is winless in 49 races at Santa Anita.

Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the seventh using Whoopddoo, Comedy Class and Fort Donna.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/157. Money: Previous day/meet total: $24.20/$926.80. Total money bet: $944.