With a mandatory payout in place, 100 horses entered and eligible to run, average field size for Saturday's highly anticipated 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 Jackpot at Santa Anita stands at 10 runners per race, ensuring the possibility of $5 million Jackpot pool at the Arcadia, Calif., track.
First post time for a 10-race card Saturday is at 12 noon Pacific and assigned post time for race five, the first installment in the Rainbow 6, is set for 2:08 p.m. PT. With a Jackpot carryover of $843,235 into Friday, track officials have projected Saturday's total Jackpot pool could exceed $5 million.
(Fans are advised that Saturday's Jackpot pool projection is based upon there being no single ticket winner on Friday. First post time for an eight-race card Friday is at 12:30 p.m.).
Here is a brief race-by-race look at Saturday's 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6, with the morning line favorite in each race.
Race 5 Approximate post time 2:08 p.m. PT
CA Bred or Sired Maiden 3-year-old Fillies
Claiming $50,000-$45,000
6 ½ Furlongs
Purse $35,000
A field of 12 has been assembled, with the Steve Knapp-trained Smoothlikebuttah designated as the 7-2 morning line favorite. Most recently sixth going one mile on turf in the California Cup Oaks Jan. 16, this daughter of Mr. Big will be running for a claiming tag for the first time in what will be her ninth career start. Knapp is enjoying a high percentage meeting and Smoothlikebuttah will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, who will be tasked with working out a winning trip from the rail.
Race 6
Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
1 1/8 Mile Turf
Purse $63,000
With a field of 10, Joel Rosario once again lands on the morning line favorite, as he sticks with English-bred Whisper Not, who comes off a close third place finish in the opening day Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile. Trained by Richard Baltas, Whisper Not, who has been installed as the 9-5 early choice, will be making his third stateside start for Baltas and will likely employ a stalking style as he stretches out a furlong from his number six post position.
Race 7
GRADE 2 SAN VICENTE STAKES
3-year-olds
Seven Furlongs
Purse $200,000
An important prep to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, the San Vicente will be contested by five sophomores, including two trained by Bob Baffert. Concert Tour, who has drawn the outside with Joel Rosario, comes off a smashing 3 ½-length first-out maiden win going six furlongs on Jan. 15 and has been designated the 8-5 favorite. Baffert's Freedom Fighter, idle since breaking his maiden at first asking going five furlongs on Aug. 1 at Del Mar, is the co-second choice at 5-2 along with Eric Kruljac's California-bred The Chosen Vron, who trounced nine statebred rivals by 6 ¾ lengths on Dec. 27.
Race 8
GRADE 3 THUNDER ROAD STAKES
4-year-olds and up
One Mile Turf
Purse: $100,000
In what appears to be a wide-open affair, 5-year-old Bob and Jackie has been designated the 5-2 morning line favorite among a field of eight. Most recently second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes going a mile and one eighth on turf Jan. 2, this 5-year-old horse by Twirling Candy cuts back to a distance at which he's won on three of six occasions. Trained by Richard Baltas, he'll be ridden by Heriberto Figueroa from post seven.
Race 9
4-year-olds and up
Claiming $16,000- $12,500
6 ½ Furlongs
Purse $24,000
The Rainbow Six doesn't get any easier in leg five, which has attracted a field of 12. Trained by Vladimir Cerin, lightly raced Threearchbaymafia drew post eight, takes a notable drop in class from allowance company on Jan. 1 and is the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite. A maiden $20,000 claiming winner going 5 ½ furlongs two starts back at Del Mar Nov. 15, this 4-year-old colt by Will Take Charge finished eighth in a six furlong allowance last time out and will get the first-time services of Umberto Rispoli in what will be his fourth career start.
Race 10
Maiden 3-year-old Fillies
Claiming $50,000-$45,000
6 ½ Furlongs
Purse: $35,000
In yet another seemingly wide-open affair, the Peter Eurton-trained Agreetodisagree looms as the 7-2 morning line favorite in a field of 12. Fifth, beaten 20 ½ lengths in a one-mile maiden special weight here on Jan. 8, this 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Runhappy cuts back in distance and takes a massive drop in class in what will be her fourth start. To be ridden for the third consecutive time by Mario Gutierrez, Agreetodisagree, who drew post position seven, will be running for a claiming tag for the first time.
With first post time set for 12 noon, fans are encouraged to tune into santaanita.com/live at 10:50 a.m. for an in-depth handicapping seminar hosted by Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi and Tom Quigley.
All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager via several ADW platforms, including 1st.com/Bet.
First post time for an eight-race card on Big Game Sunday at Santa Anita is at 11 a.m.
The post Santa Anita: Mandatory Payout Could Drive Saturday’s Pick 6 Jackpot Over $5 Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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