Analyzing six-figure carryovers at Aqueduct and Parx Racing

The final Saturday of summer is loaded with lucrative carryovers for bettors to pursue.

We’ll focus our attention on a trio of six-figure carryovers at Aqueduct and Parx Racing.

Aqueduct, Race 6: $123,936 Pick 6 carryover (3:38 p.m. ET)
Aqueduct: Race 7: $240,923 Pick 5 carryover (4:10 p.m. ET)

Two massive carryovers are up for grabs at Aqueduct. The prize pool for the $1 Pick 6 stands at $123,936, while the 50-cent Late Pick 5 has tossed up an even larger $240,923 carryover.

The two wagers overlap, and the feature event in both sequences is Race 8, the Winter Memories (G3) for three-year-old fillies racing one mile on turf. Two proven graded stakes competitors stand out as the most likely winners: #1 Opulent Restraint (2-1) and #2 May Day Ready (3-1).

RELATED: Exotic plays for the Winter Memories Stakes

Opulent Restraint is shaping up as the favorite and a possible single for some bettors. Two starts back, she ran third by three-quarters of a length in a deep edition of the Belmont Oaks (G1), a race in which she finished 3 1/4 lengths ahead of May Day Ready.

But whereas Opulent Restraint faltered in her latest start, finishing third by 2 1/2 lengths in the Saratoga Oaks (G2), May Day Ready improved out of the Belmont Oaks. In the Lake Placid (G2) last time out, May Day Ready led all the way and finished fast to score by half a length.

May Day Ready is finally rounding back to the form that saw her win the Jessamine (G2) and finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) last year. She should be used alongside Opulent Restraint in the Pick 5 and Pick 6.

Parx Racing: Race 11: $227,247 Pick 5 mandatory payout (4:04 p.m. ET)

The stakes-packed Saturday card at Parx Racing includes the mandatory payout of a $227,247 carryover in the 50-cent “Philly Big 5” Pick 5.

There are two Grade 1 races in the sequence: Race 13, the Cotillion (G1), and Race 14, the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Both races contained accomplished favorites, but also compelling midrange longshots who shouldn’t be overlooked.

In the Cotillion, many bettors figure to lean on established Grade 1 winners #1 Scottish Lassie (9-5), #2 La Cara (7-2), and #7 Good Cheer (5-2). But we believe #4 Indy Bay (8-1) has upset potential.

Winner of the Charles Town Oaks (G2) and Jersey Girl S. sprinting, Indy Bay is bred to successfully stretch out in distance for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., a 24% winner with horses running long for the first time. If Scottish Lassie and La Cara hook up in a speed duel, Indy Bay can settle behind them and pounce when called upon.

The Pennsylvania Derby field is led by Triple Crown alumni #8 Baeza (2-1), #6 Goal Oriented (5-2), and #9 Gosger (4-1). But #4 David of Athens (12-1) is an up-and-comer with upset potential.

David of Athens smashed a one-mile allowance at Ellis Park last time out by 7 1/4 lengths, earning a flashy 102 Brisnet Speed rating. He’s trained strongly since then, and there’s no telling how talented he might be. If David of Athens upsets the Pennsylvania Derby at anywhere near his 12-1 morning-line odds, we’ll have every chance to catch an enticing Pick 5 payoff.

Good luck!