The 123Racing Pick6 of the Week
Each week, 123racing is providing sponsored editorial to help you handicap its new, innovative wager, the 123racing Pick6. The bet is different from the traditional Pick 6 in that a player gets points for first, second, and third-place finishes (based on pari-mutuel payoffs) by his or her selections in each of the six races.
For example, if a player’s horse finished second, paying $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show, the player would receive 6.4 points toward his or her total. The player with the highest number of points accumulated during the sequence is declared the winner, collecting 60% of the net pool. The second and third highest-scoring players also get a share — 30% for second and 10% for third.
Sign up to play the wager at 123bet.com, make your selections, and follow the live national leaderboards after each race!
This week’s featured 123racing Pick6 takes place Saturday at Remington Park. Analysis provided by Ellis Starr.
About the author: 123racing Pick6 Handicapping Ambassador, Ellis Starr, also known as “Ubercapper”, is the National Racing Analyst for Equibase, producing widely distributed selections and analysis for various tracks around the country and writing a "Weekly Feature Race" article highlighting the best racing has to offer. Ellis has been a public handicapper for over 20 years and was one of the first to publish selections on the Internet, sharing his insights as well as the methodology he uses daily. Ellis is a regular racing analyst on the Horse Racing Radio Network on Sirius/XM and when not on the radio, producing selections or participating in handicapping contests, he can be found engaging with fans at the track, helping them become more comfortable with handicapping and wagering.
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Race #4 Contenders: Lemondropspritzer, Dancingovertheline
There doesn't seem to be much sense in using either of the morning line favorites, Miss Paxton or More Than That, to start the 123 Racing Pick 6 as Miss Paxton comes back from nearly five months off and may need a race while More Than That gets a negative trainer change off the claim. Lemondropspritzer, on the other hand, gets the leading jockey in Vasquez who stays with him even off a 6th place effort so there may be improving to do back to his winning spring form. Dancingovertheline has run two competitive races in a row under Loveberry, who rides again, so he should be in the thick of the action once again.
Race #5 Contenders: Quickerthanacat, Likeallgetout
Quickerthanacat debuts for high percentage trainer Villafranco (22% wins at the meeting) with leading jockey Vasquez riding and shows an excellent pattern of local workouts that tip his hand as a runner. Likeallgetout showed ability when 2nd of 10 in his debut last month and it may not take more than logical 2nd start physical and mental improvement for him to win.
Race #6 Contenders: Hillybilly Royalty, Royal Mile, Chancellorsville, Rag's Boy
Hillybilly Royalty is a first time starter from veteran trainer Von Hemel's barn with the trainer's #1 winning jockey in Quinonez aboard. He finds a mediocre field for his debut and is bred to like the trip. We can't ask for much more. Royal Mile ships in from Churchill Downs off a troubled 4th place effort and can improve against this easier bunch. Chancellorsville stretched out to this mile trip last out and finished 2nd to a runaway winner so should be competitive again. Rag's Boy has finished 2nd in both starts, both at a mile, losing ground in the stretch in both races. He may find a field he can beat soon.
Race #7 Contenders: One Eyed Bandit
One Eyed Bandit pretty much sticks out in this Statebred claiming race for non-winners of 2 lifetime. He missed by a half-length at this distance and level 16 days ago and ran faster (76 Equibase Figure) than any horse in the field. With Konawa Twister having lost ground in the stretch in his last two races and with the next best horse, Fling, needing tremendous improvement off his win at the 7,500 maiden claiming level to beat him, One Eyed Bandit looks very tough to beat.
Race #8 Contenders: Save the Gold, Circus Train, Magnum Force
Save the Gold runs first off the Villafranco claim, with the trainer's #1 winning jockey Vasquez riding and with the trainer having won with 27 of his last 66 claims (41%). He set the pace for a half-mile in that last race then tired but in this field he could get an easy lead and never look back. Circus Train finished well for 2nd to similar on turf and earned his last win on dirt so could be competitive. Magnum Force also finished 2nd at the level in his most recent race and is another to consider as a contender.
Race #9 Contenders: Perfect Gem, One Hot Gator, Motivare
Perfect Gem stretches out from the rail off an excellent sprint prep and won the last time he went short to long so can do the same here. One Hot Gator gets a poor post but also stretches out and finished 2nd the last time he stretched out so could be a factor. Motivare rallied from off the pace to win sprinting one before last then tired to 3rd after setting the pace last time out. If off-the-pace tactics are used here he could return to top form.
123racing Pick6 Contest Wager Suggested Ticket:
Race 4 – Lemondropspritzer, Dancingovertheline
Race 5– Quickerthanacat, Likeallgetout
Race 6 – Hillbilly Royalty, Royal Mile, Chancellorsville, Rag's Boy
Race 7 – One Eyed Bandit
Race 8 – Save the Gold
Race 9 – Perfect Gem, One Hot Gator
Cost $64
