Pick Six Makes It a Big Day

Thanks to a parade of longshots Saturday and Sunday, there will be heightened interest today at Santa Anita, where a two-day pick six carryover of $520,536 spices an eight-race program that needed a boost.

The pick six includes a $25,000 claimer for 2-year-olds, a $32,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds, a $12,500 claimer for older routers, a turf race for maiden 2-year-old fillies, an optional claimer for older routers, and a sprint for $10,000 fillies and mares.

The most likely single would seem to be Alashir’s World in the sixth. A daughter of 1997 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Spinning World out of the Alysheba mare Alashir, the chestnut figured to improve when moved to turf. She ran a creditable second in her first try on the surface last month at Del Mar.

Race of the day: The $100,000 Discovery Handicap is the opening-day feature at Aqueduct. Contenders include Saint Marden, Strive, No Parole and Regency Park.

Who’s hot: John Velasquez. He was the runaway leader in the jockey standings at Belmont Park, winning 50 races with only 194 mounts.

Who’s not: Paul Toscano and Jose Espinoza. Those two riders went five for 127 at Belmont Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Pool Music, Ben Saw San and Sky Strider in the fifth, Alashir’s World and Xocolata in the sixth, Sombrio, J.T.’s Song, Golden Bonus and Kedington in the seventh, and singling Castlebright in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/38. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.60/$219.60. Total money bet: $278.