Carryovers have been plentiful lately at the Great Race Place and that continues on Sunday afternoon where there will be a carryover of $67,798 in the $2 Pick 6. Challenging results on Big Cap Day led us here. Let’s see if we can’t piece the final 6 races of the week together after a fun, but frustrating Saturday in Arcadia.


Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.

Race 4:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 5 Re Armed Jon; 2 Smart Code; 3 Gregory’s Pride
Backups: 6 Spearfish

Forecast: A challenging starter allowance at 6.5-furlongs over the sod kicks things off where I do not trust 9-5-ML favorite #7 Incanto. The 4YO gelding ships in from Florida for Peter Eurton after having competed against better over his last several starts. On paper the Irish-bred looks like the one to beat, but Eurton is winless at Santa Anita Park over the last 30 days. I will try to beat him and stablemate #4 Vancougar with a few, but admittedly with not a lot of confidence in any particular runner.


Race 5:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6 Magic Connection; 2 Scatify
Backups: 7 Novinophobia

Forecast: Up next is this $10k N2L at 6-furlongs where once again the morning line favorite is difficult to fully trust. #2 Scatify is winless since his debut at Los Alamitos in December ’23. He made his last start on December 29 against first-level allowance foes and was absolutely terrible after finding a great early spot off the early leaders. That said, this is a massive drop for a barn that is 5 for 42 over the last 20 days, so unlike the Eurton duo in Race 4, he is almost impossible to toss. I will use the chalk along with a pair of runners that exit the February 7 race at this same level.


Race 6:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 4 Berlin Wall
Backups: None

Forecast: I will take a stand in this first-level allowance against 2-1-ML favorite #5 Voldemort with Cal-bred #4 Berlin Wall. The Practical Joke colt has done little wrong throughout his career outside of running sixth in the Malibu (G1) at 36-1 and running somewhat poorly on the grass in January. Trainer Steve Knapp moved the 4YO colt back to the dirt last time and he delivered with a big run in his first effort around two-turns. He finished extremely well versus lesser. Hopefully, he can once again stalk early and pull away late under regular rider Tiago Pereira.


Race 7:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6 Ventry Strand; 8 Honey’s Choice
Backups: 3 Sammy Davis

Forecast: It has been a slow winter in Arcadia thus far for trainer John Sadler, but he holds a strong hand in this first-level allowance down the hill. #3 Sammy Davis makes his turf debut and was made the 9-5-ML favorite, while #6 Ventry Strand returns quickly to make his third start off the layoff. Sammy Davis could be the controlling speed and has the pedigree to take to the surface switch, but I prefer Ventry Strand. The son of Bolt d’Oro came with a strong run two-back to win going away against fellow Cal-breds before putting in another big late surge in his first try at a route of ground. He moves into the open company ranks for just the second time, but is in good form and should be rolling late at a playable price. I will also include #8 Honey’s Choice. The son of Liam’s Map tried sprinting for the initial time in mid-January and it resulted in an easy win. He draws favorably in his first start versus winners.


Race 8: Santa Ysabel (G3)
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3 French Blue; 5 Forced Entry
Backups: 4 Piney Woods

Forecast: Speaking of John Sadler, the veteran conditioner is hopeful Sunday’s feature marks a big bounce back for #6 Super Corredora. The 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ winner competed against the flow in her return race last month, but that does not totally forgive her performance. It was enough for me to try to beat her at a short price in this spot with a trio of runners with upside, including top choice #3 French Blue. The Three Chimneys Farm homebred will need to take a big step forward to beat graded stakes foes in her first start against winners and at two-turns, but did everything right on debut. I expect her to make a strong account of herself and am hopeful from a gambling perspective that last year’s champ fails to fire her best shot once again.


Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7 Victorious Dream
Backups: 1 Sandy Street; 3 Lilo Lil

Forecast: I hope to get to the finale where I am absolutely against 2-1-ML favorite #6 Bint Al Dandy. The 5YO mare has burnt a ton of money through 7 starts in the States, often with little excuse. On paper, the Dandy Man mare appears the one to beat, but I will once again let her beat me. I like #7 Victorious Dream most. The European import makes her third start in North America after putting in a solid run to finish second to an odds-on favorite from the Phil D’Amato barn on January 24. She gets a huge rider upgrade to hot riding Juan Hernandez and should be finishing full of run on the turnback to one mile.