Super high five carryover offers early shot at riches

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita made changes this winter. The betting menu has a new twist, and the racing program has a new category. Well, sort of. The super high five, a $1 wager that requires picking the first five finishers in order, was introduced 10 years ago in Southern California. So, it is not really new.

What is new is the frequency. Previously offered only on the last race, Santa Anita this winter introduced rolling super high fives on every race with seven or more starters. If no one hits the bet – which has a takeout of 23.68 percent – the net pool carries to the next qualified race.

No one hit the super high five in the final race Monday. That means a $13,554 carryover is up for grabs in the first race Friday, if all seven entrants start.

As for the “new” category, Santa Anita has run maidenclaiming races on turf, but never with as much frequency. The fourth such race this meet will be run Friday, a maidenclaiming turf mile for 3-yearold fillies positioned at a critical point on the card.

Race 5 is the final leg of the early pick five, third leg of the pick six, second leg of the late pick five, first leg of the late pick four, and part of three pick three sequences and two daily doubles.

Bettors that commit a handicapping blunder in race 5 will find success to be elusive Friday in multi-race wagers.

While pros and cons of betting options and maidenclaiming turf races are debatable, a horseplayer must still pick an occasional winner. Should you find the winner first, then decide how to bet? Or, find the bet first and then try to find the winner? The latter applies Friday.

The super high five carryover Friday is virtually identical to the first race last Friday (Jan. 12), when a $13,357 carryover generated $34,613 in handle. Due to the carryover and pool amount, more money ($39,773) was paid to winners than wagered that day.

Last week’s first-race super high five carryover was the third this meet on the first race of the day. In each case, winners were paid more than wagered that day. (Dec. 29 winners paid $74,071 from $59,294 pool; Dec. 31 winners paid $14,874 from $8,157 pool.)

The key horse in the first race Friday is Conqueror, whose recent speed figures top the starter-allowance field. He also benefits from a closing style that suits the pace scenario. The speed of the speed is Caray. Only seven were entered. If there is a scratch, the next race the super high five carryover could be offered is race 3, because only six were entered in race 2.

In the fifth race maidenclaiming turf mile, droppers Dr. Ann and Prairie Citizen are leading contenders based on respectable efforts versus special-weight maidens. Two of three maiden-claiming turf races this meet were won by favorites (Martin Riggs and Acker, who each paid $4.40).

The most probable winner Friday is Ms. Bad Behavior in race 3. The 3-year-old filly drops from a stakes race into a first-level allowance turf sprint. She has run well against better company and has a pedigree that suits the switch to turf.