Mandatory-payout carryover picks at Woodbine, Charles Town

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson analyzes lucrative carryovers at Los Alamitos, Woodbine, and Charles Town, including a trio of mandatory-payout carryovers.

Los Alamitos, Race 4: $8,972 Pick 6 carryover (4:59 p.m. ET)

If you’re looking for a horse to single in the $8,972 Pick 6 carryover at Los Alamitos, check out #3 Litmus Test (4-5) in Race 8, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

Litmus Test is dropping in class after recording top-four finishes in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). In the latter race, he was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths while earning a 102 Brisnet Speed rating that towers over the Los Alamitos Futurity field.

Litmus Test is versatile in terms of running style and should work out a perfect trip against this small field. He can give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a ninth win from 12 editions of the Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Woodbine, Race 10: $193,998 Super High 5 mandatory payout (5:40 p.m. ET)

On the final Saturday of the Woodbine Thoroughbred meet, a $193,998 USD ($269,656 CAD) Super High 5 carryover features a mandatory payout.

The prize pool will be dispersed in Race 10, a $32,000 allowance optional claimer for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on Tapeta. #8 Home for a Rest (5-2) is a logical favorite; she’s cracked the exacta in each of her last six starts at Woodbine, including a couple of $32,000 allowance optional claimers. Along the way, she’s earned sharp Brisnet Speed ratings in the 82-89 range.

But don’t underestimate #2 Why Em Sea Ay (6-1) at a bit of a price. Her last three starts sprinting over the Woodbine Tapeta have produced two wins (in a maiden special weight and a $40,000 optional claimer) and a second in a $40,000 optional claimer. Her Brisnet Speed ratings for those efforts ranged from 81 to 86, suggesting she’s fast enough to challenge Home for a Rest.

Here are the tickets we recommend playing:

• 20-cent Super High 5: 8 with 2 with 1,4,5,6,9 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 ($20)
• 20-cent Super High 5: 8 with 1,4,5,6,9 with 2 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 ($20)
• 20-cent Super High 5: 2 with 8 with 1,4,5,6,9 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 with 1,4,5,6,7,9 ($20)
  Total: $60

Charles Town, Race 4: $76,948 Pick 6 mandatory payout (8:32 p.m. ET)
Charles Town, Race 5: $30,988 Pick 5 mandatory payout (9:02 p.m. ET)

A pair of five-figure carryovers will be paid out in mandatory fashion at Charles Town. The Pick 6 prize pool is $76,948, while the carryover for the Late Pick 5 stands at $30,988.

Both sequences end with Race 9, a $5,000 claimer for fillies and mares sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs. #1 Caribbean Comedy (6-5) is a standout favorite and a runner worth singling in both the Pick 5 and Pick 6.

Caribbean Comedy enters in hot form. She’s won two of her last three starts over this track and distance, even while facing tougher competition. On Sept. 25, she trounced an allowance by 5 1/2 lengths. On Nov. 13, she rallied to win a $15,000 claimer by a neck.

Those wins yielded Brisnet Speed ratings of 78 and 80. None of Caribbean Comedy’s Race 9 rivals have posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 73 in their last three starts apiece, so if Caribbean Comedy brings her A game while dropping down to the $5,000 level, she can win for fun.

Good luck!