Pick 6 Betting Preview: Del Mar $297,538 Carryover – September 2, 2013

photo: Matt Carter

Special Labor Day racing across the country on Monday, but all eyes will be on Del Mar and it’s $297,538 pick-6 carryover. The sequence features two stake races, the Yellow Ribbon and Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf, which starts off the wager.

Clenor is going to be a single on many tickets after her rousing maiden special weight win over the track last month. She was off slow, but circled the field and won going away. She was third in a Group 3 in England and outclasses this field.

Claimers go six furlongs in race seven and we will use three here; Sacred Ovation, Too Fast to Pass and Life a Riley. Lucky Cotton is a first-time-gelding so he may be worth including. Others to consider are Real Heat, Scherer Magic and Very Elusive.

Two-year-old maiden special weight fillies go five and one-half in race eight with Belle of the Fleet the one to beat. The Northern Afleet filly ran very well in her debut, just running out of real estate at the end. No workouts since that race and the connections opt to stay at the same distance are the only two negatives. Pretty Storm won her debut at Canterbuy, but was disqualified after the race. She was since purchased privately and runs for top connections. She ran without really being asked in Minnesota and could be long gone from the rail. Other fillies with top connections are Honey Ride and Costamar, but they may need a start to show their best. If you want a filly that could be overlooked on the line, go with Faith Hope Love for trainer Craig Dollase. Dollase and Espinoza teamed up last year with two debut winners including Tree of Life at 22-1.

Race nine is the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for fillies and mares on the turf. Halo Dolly won this race last year and is the pick to score again. She just loves to win, 16 times in 32 career starts, and is a multiple graded stakes winner. Her biggest danger looks to be Egg Drop, who is coming off a second place finish in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Mile at Hollywood Park in July. She may face pace pressure from A Jealous Woman, which would set it up for Closing Range. Closing Range won the Osunitas Stakes in her last start over the track at nearly 17-1.

Even to the Moon is the pick in race ten, a state-bred maiden special weight race for two-year-olds. The son of Time to Get Even finished second in his debut, but ran a winning race and galloped out very well. From post three, jockey Rafael Bejarano projects for a trip gate-to-wire. Go First won his debut, but was disqualified after coming in late. Six furlongs may be too far for the son of Kafwain. Southern Digs will be finishing and expect a better performance from Pray Hard and Sudden Rumor, two geldings from stables that know how to win.

The finale is a maiden special weight race for three-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs on the main track and we will hopefully get away with using just two. Cervaro has no early speed, but will be finishing while Layton Register should be sitting mid-pack and can win with a ground-saving trip. Carrytheteam is 8-1 on the morning line on the stretch-out and surface switch and projects to improve; however, it may not be fast enough to contend with the top two. Jockey Rafael Bejarano may send him early. Point and Shoot is another at 6-1 on the morning line with claims on the win. The gelded son of War Chant ran into a next out winner last time, but must overcome the outside post.

The pick-6 will be hit today as the races don’t scream overly tough. Of course when that’s the case, that’s when the carryovers happen. Perhaps another into closing day on Wednesday? That pool would be monsterous!

First post on Monday at Del Mar is 5:05 pm ET with the pick-6 scheduled to break from the gate at 7:30.