Competitive Races Make It Tough as Bettors Eye Pick Six Carry-Over

For the second consecutive time, the racing week at Santa Anita will begin with a pick six carry-over.

Thanks to a slew of upsets Sunday, including Silver Cup’s victory at 16-1 in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap, there is a carry-over of $167,708 awaiting bettors today.

The races in the pick six sequence are extremely competitive, two of them on the turf.

In the fourth, Ecru Egret, overmatched while finishing seventh in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 17 at Hollywood Park, will appreciate a return to the maiden ranks and a switch to the turf in the one-mile contest. Jon Court will ride the 3-year-old Silver Hawk colt for owner Lynne Dek Russo and trainer Beau Greely.

In his only other start on turf, Ecru Egret finished second at 19-1 in his debut Oct. 12 in Arcadia.

The other grass race is a $48,000 allowance at about 6 1/2 furlongs for older horses. The contenders include Leo Getz, who is owned in part by actor Joe Pesci and who broke his maiden down the hill last April 14; Littlebitofzip, Prince Of Gold and Margaritalosflores.

The other pick six races are a maiden contest for 3-year-old fillies bred in California, a maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies, a $25,000 claimer for 4-year-olds and an optional claimer for older California bred fillies and mares.

Race of the day: La Dolce Vita, who beat maidens in her lone start on the Gulfstream Park turf course last April 14, will race for the first time for trainer Mark Hennig in today’s ninth. Mark Guidry will ride the 4-year-old Quiet American filly for owner-breeder Gary Zwerling in the $33,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles.

One for the road: Lieutenant Danz can improve with a barn change and win for the first time over Aqueduct’s inner track in today’s fifth. Hot rider Ramon Dominguez will be aboard the 4-year-old Gold Fever colt for Team Stallion Stable and new trainer Gary Contessa, who is hitting at a 23% clip so far at the meet, in the $65,000 claimer at a mile and 70 yards.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Domestic Dispersal, Neuilly and Ran For The Dough in the first; Coronado’s Pride and Royal Place in the second, and Hokulani, Chosen Royalty and I Wish You Love in the third.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/26. Money: (previous day/meet total): $2.80/$152. Total money bet: $188.