Pick Six Pot Is Building

Fans of pick-six carry-overs and maiden claiming races will be in their glory today at Santa Anita.

Because of a series of upsets on Sunday, there is a carry-over of $159,466 as Oak Tree begins its second full week with an eight-race program. Half of the races are for maiden claimers, and three of the four are in the pick six.

In the third, which is the first leg of the pick six, 2-year-old California breds racing for a $40,000 tag will go six furlongs; the other two maiden claimers in the sequence are for older fillies and mares racing for a $25,000 tag.

The pick six is completed by a two-turn race for $10,000 fillies and mares and two turf contests -- the first for California-bred fillies and mares and the other a $53,000 optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles.

Race of the day: Alchemist, who has won three of four starts for trainer Shug McGaughey, drops out of the Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap to face four other fillies and mares in today’s fifth, a $52,000 allowance, at Belmont Park.

One for the road: Whiskey Park returns from a lengthy layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher and looks primed to break his maiden in today’s sixth at Belmont Park. John Velazquez will ride the 4-year-old Hennessy colt in the mile turf race. Whiskey Park was second in two of three races on in 2002.

Exotically speaking: An Oak Tree pick three with Sonriente in the first, Ms. Powful, Lucky Turk and Tejati in the second and Cozy Guy, Pleasure Honor and Obermutten in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/18. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12.40/$82.80. Total money bet: $108.