Pick 6 Preview: Santa Anita $49,844 Carryover – March 30, 2013

The pick-6 proved to be too tough for bettors on Friday leaving a carryover of just under $50,000 for the Saturday card.  Make some money early on at Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park then dive into the pick-6 at Santa Anita.  The first leg is race four, a maiden claimer for three-year-old fillies.

Chila Ali looks to be a standout in the first leg with the blinkers on.  She exits a good second place finish at this level and was nearly six lengths clear of Swiss Key, who is also entered in the race Saturday.

Only a field of eight down the hill for race five, but every horse has a chance.  Major Affair is the morning line favorite making his first start on the turf after a sixth place finish on the main track last month.  Colburn also makes his turf debut and is a touch better bred to handle the surface switch.

The first of the Cal-bred stakes is up next with three-year-old fillies going six and one-half furlongs in the Evening Jewel.  Sweet Marini blasted maidens in her debut and then was privately purchased by Kaleen Shah and switched to Bob Baffert.  She looks to be a standout based on the speed figure she earned.  The one caveat is that came back in November.  Hail Mary fits as does Doinghardtimeagain, who won the state-bred Soviet Problem at seven furlongs at Hollywood Park in December.

The $40,000 March Madness Handicap doesn’t get any easier for bettors with seven horses between 7-2 and 8-1 on the morning line.  Jockey Garrett Gomez is riding lights out right now on the turf so give a long look to Deacon Speakin’.  Tale of a Champion and Lumberyard Jack will be positioned in front of Deacon Speakin’ turning for home.

The Cal-bred Echo Eddie is up next with a field of 12.  Follini is a maiden, but ran well enough in his debut to be a factor here.  Indian Classic won that maiden race and is also in the Echo Eddie.  Omega Star flopped in the San Felipe, but he is better than that especially back with state-breds.

The final is a low level beaten claimer going six furlongs on the main track.  Prized by Buck finished second at this level in his last start and enters as the horse to beat.  The Director, if ready to roll off the year layoff, is another to use on deeper plays.  Banged His Eye is the 2-1 morning line favorite and will appreciate the added half furlong as he just lost by a nose in his last. 

It looks like a pretty decent card to play and one that could pay very well.

First post at the Great Race Place is 3:30 ET with race four scheduled to break from the gate at 5:01.