Churchill Downs: How to bet the mandatory-payout $1,413,928 Pick 6

Sunday is closing day of the Churchill Downs spring meet. The stakes-packed card is highlighted by the mandatory payout of a $1,413,928 Pick 6 carryover.

The 20-cent “Derby City 6” gets underway in Race 6 (post time 3:18 p.m. ET) and encompasses five stakes worth a combined $1,175,000.

Planning to play the Pick 6? We’ve got you covered with a race-by-race analysis and a proposed ticket.

Churchill Downs $1,413,928 Pick 6 mandatory payout: wager

• 20-cent Pick 6: 4,5,6,7 with 1,3,4 with 1,2,4 with 7 with 2,7,8,10 with 2,5,7,9 ($115.20)

Churchill Downs $1,413,928 Pick 6 mandatory payout: analysis

Race 6: Bashford Manor S. (six furlongs on dirt)

There are plenty of live contenders in this competitive sprint for juveniles. We’ll cover a lot of bases with #4 Romeo (9-2), #5 Comport (3-1), #6 Saul Elliott (4-1), and #7 Password (7-2).

Race 7: Debutante S. (six furlongs on dirt)

#1 Essential Coffee (3-1) led all the way in her debut sprinting five furlongs at Churchill Downs, but was disqualified from an 8 1/2-length victory due to interfering with a rival. Still, Essential Coffee ran strongly and rocketed her final furlong in :11.80, suggesting she has serious talent. California raider #3 Light Won Up (5-1) and the stoutly bred #4 Americathegreat (7-2) are the only others we’ll include.

Race 8: Hanshin S. (one mile on dirt)

#1 Banishing (2-1) is a logical win threat off his runner-up finish in the Churchill Downs (G1) to Mindframe, who returned to win yesterday’s Stephen Foster (G1). But Banishing exits a subpar fifth in the Blame (G3), so we’ll back him up with California raider #2 Judge Miller (6-1) and the accomplished miler #4 Saudi Crown (9-5).

Race 9: Anchorage S. (1 1/8 miles on turf)

#7 Pin Up Betty (8-5) is in strong form this year. She finished second by a neck when ending a long layoff in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), then launched a strong rally to win the Mint Julep (G3). Both of those efforts came at Churchill Downs. We’ll single Pin Up Betty in the Pick 6.

Race 10: Maxfield S. (seven furlongs on dirt)

#10 Verifire (5-1) is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts sprinting against easier competition, but stepping up in class is a new obstacle. Stakes-winning rivals like #2 Captain Cook (9-2), #7 Speed King (5-1), and #8 Flood Zone (4-1) are logical challengers while cutting back in distance.

Race 11: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/8 miles on turf)

Although a large field has entered this maiden special weight, only a few seem likely to vie for victory. The tactical speed of #2 Twolatebabydoll (4-1), the form lines of #5 Good Game (9-2), the dirt-to-turf potential of #7 Merry Madison (5-1), and the upside of lightly raced #9 Maple Syrup (15-1) make these four the ones we’ll use.

Good luck!