Analyzing Saturday Pick 6 carryovers at Belmont, Keeneland, Santa Anita

A huge Saturday of coast-to-coast Breeders’ Cup prep races just got even better with the emergence of three non-jackpot Pick 6 carryovers at major tracks.

Belmont Park, Keeneland, and Santa Anita—the three tracks hosting the majority of Saturday’s graded stakes—have each tossed up a five-figure Pick 6 carryover, adding great betting value to already stellar race cards.

Belmont Park: Race 6: $21,511 Pick 6 carryover (2:50 p.m. ET)

The sequence for Belmont’s $1 Pick 6 with a $21,511 carryover is comprised exclusively of graded stakes. One of the best is Race 8, the one-mile Champagne (G1), a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in which #5 U. S. S. Valor (3-5) is a formidable favorite.

U. S. S. Valor couldn’t have been much more impressive when smashing a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga last month by 13 1/4 lengths. He earned a powerful 105 Brisnet Speed rating that towers over the Champagne field, so we recommend singling U. S. S. Valor in the Pick 6.

Keeneland: Race 5: $37,398 Pick 6 carryover (3:08 p.m. ET)

Keeneland’s $1 Pick 6 boasts a $37,398 carryover and likewise encompasses a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier: Race 9, the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

We suggest singling odds-on favorite #1 Coach Pope (4-5). He easily obliterated a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last month, winning by 12 1/2 lengths with a 99 Brisnet Speed rating. None of his Breeders’ Futurity rivals have run faster on the Brisnet Speed rating scale, so if Coach Pope repeats or improves upon his last-out performance, he should deliver another win.

Santa Anita: Race 5: $28,772 Pick 6 carryover (6:02 p.m. ET)

The traditional $2 Pick 6 at Santa Anita features a $28,772 carryover on Saturday, and the first half of the sequence look straightforward to handicap.

In Race 5, a six-furlong maiden special weight for California-bred juveniles, #2 Angel’s Ember (6-5) is a logical favorite, but #4 Empire of Ash (8-1) has upset potential while dropping in class out of a stakes. He finished close behind Angel’s Ember when they debuted together at this class level at Del Mar.

Race 6 is the Speakeasy S., a five-furlong grass dash for two-year-olds. #2 Omaha Spirit (8-5) and #6 Arctic Wolf (2-1), stakes-experienced runners shipping in from outside California, are the two we recommend using.

Unbeaten Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner #2 Hughes (4-5) is the heavy favorite to win Race 7, the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1), a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. But while some bettors may choose to single Hughes, don’t underestimate his lightly raced stablemate #4 Imperial Honor (9-5), who should appreciate stretching out in distance off a winning debut over 5 1/2 furlongs.

Good luck!