Pick Six Carries the Day

The prediction for a pick six carry-over was a day early.

Many thought there would be a carry-over into Sunday because of the competitive nature of the Gold Rush Day card, but that program on Saturday turned out mostly according to form and there were quite a few pick six winners.

Things were a lot more unpredictable Sunday. The major surprises were provided by Devlish, who won the fourth at 10-1; Royal Moro, who took the fifth at 14-1, and Houston’s Prayer, the $44 winner of the ninth.

So, a carry-over of $171,686 awaits players as Hollywood Park begins the second week of its spring-summer season.

The hottest horse in the sequence is Imperial King. A 6-year-old Slewpy gelding, he was beaten in the first five starts of his life but has rattled off three successive victories. The California-bred will try to keep the roll going in the fourth, a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Race of the day: Stellar, a talented daughter of Grand Slam who showed some promise as a 2-year-old, will make her 2003 debut in today’s eighth at Churchill Downs, a $42,200 allowance at seven furlongs. Owned by Edward Evans and Michael Tabor, Stellar is trained by Patrick Biancone and will be ridden by Tony Farina.

One for the road: Lasik is a debuting daughter of Mazel Trick, the talented stakes winner whose career was cut short by injury. The chestnut filly is making her first start in today’s fourth at Aqueduct and comes from a barn (Richard Dutrow Jr.) that wins at a high percentage with first timers.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Dream Day, Forty Pureza and I’mmuchthebest in the sixth, singling Red Opal in the seventh and Kind Lena, Alpenwald, She’sgotgoldfever, Grand View Girls and Klassy Katlyn in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 0/15. Money: Previous day/meet total: 0/$95.60. Total money bet: $88.