Pick Six Bettors Try to Unlock the Golden Gate

The opening of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet today is a secondary story to pick six players.

The main event for those bettors is the $233,206 carry-over that awaits at Golden Gate Fields.

No one has been able to pick all six winners at the track in Albany, Calif., since Dec. 16, a span of five racing days.

The pick six begins with the fourth race, a $20,000 claimer for older horses at a mile, continues with the first of two turf contests, then concludes with an $8,000 maiden claimer, a $4,000 claimer for older horses and a starter allowance for fillies and mares.

One of the grass races is the $100,000 Work The Crowd Handicap. Scheduled for a mile, the ungraded race attracted 10 California-bred fillies and mares. One of the contenders is Tricky Surf, a 4-year-old Urgent Request filly who has won five of eight on the grass for owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and trainer Steve Specht.

Miguel Perez will ride Tricky Surf, who could have been claimed for $6,250 as recently as Sept. 3. In her return to the grass, she won by three lengths that day as a 20-1 longshot.

Race of the day: Three Valleys, a troubled third against older horses in the Citation Handicap in his U.S. debut Nov. 27, will race 3-year-olds in today’s $100,000 Sir Beaufort at Santa Anita.

One for the road: Bellagio Bob scored an impressive win in his first start for trainer Bubba Cascio on Dec. 2 and can come right back as he moves up in class in today’s sixth at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Corey Lanerie will ride the 3-year-old Western Borders colt in a $30,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Three Valleys in the seventh, Mass Media, Rock Hard Ten and Perfect Moon in the eighth, and One Smart Deputy, Natural Phenomenon, Ulistentome and Valdini in the ninth.

Winners (final for Hollywood Park): Previous day/meet total: 4/107. Money: Previous day/meet total: $20.40/$600.60. Total money bet: $616.