Cornelio Velasquez booted home five winners on card when pick 6 pool reached nearly $1 million; $734,837 was bet yesterday chasing three-day carryover of $243,011. Short prices won first three legs, two of those ridden by Velasquez, who won finale of pick 6 that paid 164G to four off-track bettors. But players who had 7-2 Cori’s Star in pick 6 in seventh race will remember Cornelio for one that got away.
In field of 35G claimers going mile on turf, NY-bred mare Classic Marilyn, trained by John Hertler for Mike Francesca’s Summer Wind Stable, was 16-1 after failing to hit board in 10 starts this year. She shook loose on lead under Jorge Chavez, at top of stretch turned back bids from 5-2 entrymates Fort Carillon and Survived. Then Cori’s Star, Velasquez up, burst through along rail to take lead mid-stretch, opened length, looked home free. But suddenly, Classic Marilyn – chronic loser with record of 2-for-39 – somehow discovered will to win, dug in under Chop Chop, came on again to catch Cori’s Star at wire, with 5-2 favorite Optimist Girl another neck back in third.
THIRD RACE: CP West, Nick Zito’s 3-year-old colt who’s been knocking heads with Gr. 1 company like Curlin and Street Sense since he was 2-year-old, made first start since Travers going mile in $75,000 Wild Again overnight stakes. Favored at 4-5 under Velasquez, he dueled down backside with Saratoga Lulaby, beat back several challenges to take command turning for home, edged clear down stretch to notch first victory in nine starts since he broke his maiden first time out at Saratoga in Aug. 2006.
FIFTH RACE: For a while, it looked as if another carryover might be in store as R Fast Favorite, 27-1 after being beaten 18, 16 and 13 lengths in prior three starts, ran off to lead down backside despite best efforts of Raul Rojas to reel him in. Around turn, R Fast Favorite opened up, still led by daylight inside final furlong; but R Loyal Man, 2-1 choice dropping from 35G to 16G and going turf to dirt, split horses mid-stretch, finished full of run under Velasquez to nail R Fast Favorite in final yards. Hunch R&R exacta paid $155.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 7-3-3-8-3-10
4 winners (6 of 6) each paid $164,081
435 consolation (5 of 6) each paid $316
No carryover