Carryovers give horseplayers shot at some holiday cash

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The holiday season kicks off this week, and what better way to get your hands on some spending money than chasing carryovers in both the late pick five and pick six Wednesday at Aqueduct?

The pick six went unsolved for three straight programs, resulting in a $263,298 carryover into Wednesday. The wager, with a $2 minimum, begins with race 4. There is also a rare carryover of $37,290 in the late pick five, a wager restricted to those with a NYRA Bets advance-deposit wagering account or those playing ontrack or at a New York simulcast facility. The pick five has a 50-cent minimum and begins with race 5.

Four of the pick six races (and three in the pick five) are scheduled for the turf. There was some rain forecast for Monday night and Tuesday morning, but no rain is in the forecast for Wednesday. A look at the sequences: Race 4: In the uncoupled pair of Malthael and the firsttime starter Sea of Hope, trainer Christophe Clement seems to have a strong hand in this maiden race for 2-yearolds, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. In two maiden races on turf, Malthael has run behind subsequent stakes winners Current and Empire of War. Ian Glass, third in an Oct. 6 maiden affair in which Malthael was second, came back to win at Fair Grounds last Saturday.

Sea of Hope is the first foal out of stakes-winning mare Part the Seas and draws Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride.

Demarchalier is a son of Dubawi whom trainer Chad Brown purchased out of the 2017 Tattersalls yearling auction – where he also got Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Newspaper-ofrecord – and must be used.

Seismic Wave was a solid third in her Sept. 22 debut going this distance over yielding ground at Belmont.

Race 5: Mrs. Ramona G came off a seven-month layoff to win a first-level allowance sprinting on turf at Belmont in October. She steps up into a modest second-level allowance race.

Nomorerichblondes makes her first start on turf and first for Linda Rice, who has good numbers off a trainer change.

Race 6: The closest thing to a single in the pick six is Okeamo, the only horse making his first start for a claiming tag in this New York-bred $25,000 maiden claimer at a mile on dirt. He comes off two third-place finishes – both to next-out allowance winners – against special weight company and could be primary speed in this nine-horse field under David Cohen. Trainer Mike Miceli is just 1 for 6 the last three years with runners going maiden special to maiden claiming.

Local Edition is winless in four starts on turf, but is a halfsibling to four dirt winners and goes out for trainer Tom Bush, who has sent out solid runners this meet.

Race 7: Rhode Island may like shortening up a halffurlong after getting beat a half-length when finishing fourth in 1 1/4-mile race at Belmont on Sept. 22. He finished in front of Minnie P, who is in this field.

Chantry Flats and Argonne are others to consider if this maiden race stays on turf. Zealous, an entrymate of Argonne, is the one to beat if this race is moved to dirt.

Race 8: Blewitt returns from a nine-month layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher in this statebred second-level allowance/optional $40,000 claimer, and is running at a distance – six furlongs – that is shorter than he’s run in any of his three previous starts. The outside draw should give John Velazquez options.

Cerretalto won this condition when not in for the tag in February and is in for the $40,000 claiming price on Wednesday. Has run only once in nine months, finishing third in an open company allowance at Saratoga in August.

The late-running Benevolence could get the right setup, as there does appear to be plenty of pace in this race.

Race 9: Horse-for-course Macagone was reclaimed by trainer Bill Mott for $32,000 in September and is now in for $25,000 in this statebred claimer, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. Macagone is 4 for 6 at Aqueduct.

With Exultation is 3 for 5 at Aqueduct and is coming off a fourth behind Mobridge and Cloontia – both in this race – at Belmont in first off the layoff for trainer Linda Rice.

Former Mott trainee Mobridge, now trained by Danny Gargan, drops into the level at which he won at Belmont in October.