Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Santa Anita’s $60,494 Pick 6 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, May 15 at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita, including horses to play in Pick 6 and Super High 5 carryovers at Churchill and Santa Anita.

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• $50 Belmont at the Big A Challenge
• $40 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $100 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $400 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder Friday to 5/23 Churchill Downs NHC Qualifier
• $60 Evangeline Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 5/29 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder
• $40 Evangeline Downs Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Gulfstream Park: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on dirt, 1:22 p.m. ET)

#5 Strike (1-1) ran strongly in his April 19 debut sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs over this track and class level. He dueled for the lead, then stayed on to finish second by half a length. His form was flattered when third-place finisher Liberty Rings returned to win the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S. in her next start.

If Strike repeats his debut effort on Friday, he can head to the winner’s circle under hot jockey Samy Camacho. We’ll key Strike on top of an exacta using first-time starter #3 It’s Smoking (12-1) for second place. The latter is trained by Ramon Minguet, who has compiled a solid 26-5-5-0 (19%) record debuting juveniles at Gulfstream since 2021.

Selections

• #5 Strike (1-1)
• #3 It’s Smoking (12-1)
• #1 X G Man (10-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 5 with 3

Churchill Downs: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 3:50 p.m. ET)

#10 In Scope (4-1) produced a decent showing when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland last month. She raced close to the pace before staying on to finish third with a sharp 91 Brisnet Speed rating.

Trainer Rusty Arnold doesn’t win with a high percentage of his first-time starters, but his strike rate with second-time starters is a solid 15%. In Scope is eligible to move forward in her second start, and her pedigree suggests she’ll relish stretching out over one mile, so let’s place a win bet on the chestnut filly.

Selections

• #10 In Scope (4-1)
• #11 Bodacious Bay (8-1)
• #1 Wedelia (6-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #10 In Scope

Santa Anita: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 4:30 p.m. ET)

#3 Otto’s Magic (1-1) is getting back on dirt after misfiring in a turf try. Two starts back, he set the pace in a six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt at Santa Anita before weakening to finish second by a head.

Returning to his preferred surface might be all Otto’s Magic needs to break his maiden for trainer Phil D’Amato, a 21% winner this year. Let’s play Otto’s Magic on top of fast-working first-time starter #2 Here On Business (5-2) in a cold exacta.

Selections

• #3 Otto’s Magic (1-1)
• #2 Here On Business (5-2)
• #1 Cornealeusthegreat (15-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 3 with 2

Carryover Watch

Churchill Downs: Race 2: $7,085 Super High 5 carryover (1:14 p.m. ET)

Friday’s second race at Churchill Downs features a $7,085 carryover in the $1 Super High 5.

Race 2 is a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies dashing five furlongs on turf. However, with rain in the forecast, it’s possible the race will be rained off the turf.

Regardless of whether Race 2 takes place on turf or dirt, second-time starter #4 Storm Diva (8-1) is an intriguing candidate to crack the top five as a midrange longshot. The daughter of Oscar Performance debuted in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, in which she dueled for the lead before tiring to finish fourth. The runner-up returned to win her next start, flattering the form of the race.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse wins at a solid 18% rate with second-time starters, so Storm Diva is eligible to step forward on Friday and vie for a competitive finish. Don’t leave her off your tickets.

Santa Anita: Race 4: $60,494 Pick 6 carryover (5:32 p.m. ET)

The Friday card at Santa Anita is highlighted by a lofty $60,494 carryover in the traditional $2 Pick 6.

If you’re looking for a single to build tickets around, our best recommendation can be found right off the bat in Race 4, a maiden special weight taking place over one mile on dirt. Triple Crown nominee #5 Decisive Win (1-1), a three-year-old son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist, is a compelling choice to defeat five rivals.

Decisive Win debuted in a deep 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita. He dueled for the lead before tiring to finish fourth. The winner, Crude Velocity, recently took the Pat Day Mile (G2), while runner-up Civil Liberty finished third in the 2025 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

Decisive Win is almost certainly facing an easier field on Friday. All five of his rivals have run at least once, and none appear to be budding graded stakes stars like Crude Velocity. Chances are, Decisive Win has found the perfect spot to graduate for trainer Doug O’Neill, an 18% winner with second-time starters.

Good luck!