Handicapping Sam Houston's Space City Pick 6 mandatory payout Jan. 9

The second card of Sam Houston's 2021 season on Saturday night features the retirement of their jackpot Space City Pick 6 wager, so there will be a mandatory payout that includes $58,970 carried over from Friday program.

A conventional (non-jackpot) Pick 6 wager will be instituted when racing resumes next week. Although the minimum base will rise from the Space City's 20 cents to 50 cents, the wager's appeal will be enhanced as the takeout remains at an industry-low 12%. That's in line with the rest of all horizontal wagers offered at the track.

But first, let's get the final Space City 6 out of the way. Here's how we'll play the 20-cent ticket:

• 5,6 with 2,3,6 with 1,3,8 with 7 with 6,7 with 2,6 = $14.40

Race 5 -- 9:33 p.m. ET

#5 RADIANT KITTEN (12-1) ran below par in his most recent turf try, against N1X allowance foes, but prior turf form by the son of Kitten's Joy is more than acceptable and lightly-raced 4-year-old appears to have further room for improvement. The same can also be said for first-time gelding #6 BRONX RUMBLE (3-1), who hails from the generally dangerous Stidham barn. Main knock against is that he enters off a layoff dating back to mid-April and perhaps could be a tad short.

Race 6 -- 10:00 p.m. ET

Plenty of speed in allowance/optional claimer for 3-year-olds, so off-the-pace contenders #6 ULTIMATE (2-1) and #3 TOOBADSOSAD (12-1) merit attention. #2 LUCKY PROMISE (9-2) is more of a pressing type but has been rather consistent so far and could be sharper second-time back from a brief layoff.

Race 7 -- 10:27 p.m. ET

I can see #1 VEGAS GUY (1-1) being a single on many tickets as he finished a strong second in his debut at Keeneland and gets first Lasix after a poor run at Churchill last time. However, first-time starters #3 BURNZ DA BOSS (9-2) and #8 BEAR BRIAN (3-1) enter with decent-looking worktabs for capable barns and will be on my ticket as well.

Race 8 -- 10:54 p.m. ET

The featured N2X allowance is where we'll find our single, the Steve Asmussen-trained #7 IMPACT PLAYER (5-2). Latest in a shorter race at Delta can be forgiven due to a troubled start and best speed can get the job done from just off the pace.

Race 9 -- 11:21 p.m. ET

All things being equal, the former stakes-quality #7 BOURBON COWBOY (7-2) owns the back class edge against this field of optional claiming/starter allowance runners and a repeat of his latest at Remington can get the job done. However, the Broberg-trained #6 BOSTON REPO (10-1) turned in a massive dud first time off the bench at Delta and perhaps can re-kindle some of his better summertime form at attractive odds.

Race 10 -- 11:48 p.m. ET

Eight-race maiden #2 CATCH THE DEVIL (5-2) towers over most of the previous starters, but will also give #6 JAN'S TAPIN GO (10-1) a slight look as well as her latest run here 11 months ago proved to be a key race. A clean start (for once) is essential for her.