PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $74,546 INTO FRIDAY

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif.  – A virtual money machine each time she runs, 6-year-old mare Welken expanded on her remarkable consistency Thursday with a neck victory over Hermione’s Magic in Santa Anita’s $52,800 feature for fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

Running the distance in 1:35.50 with Mike Smith aboard, 8-5 favored Welken bettered her record to 9-9-4 in 26 career races. In order to find the last time the Sky Classic mare finished out of the money, one would need to go back nearly two years and 16 races.

Smith put her a bit closer than usual in Thursday’s field of seven while tracking early pace-setter Sheza Maneater. She assumed command nearing the far turn and gamely resisted the closing bid of 5-2 second choice Hermione’s Magic with Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

“This mare is really better when she can make a run at someone instead of having them come at her,” Smith said afterward. “The way it worked out though, I couldn’t get her covered up because there wasn’t much pace. We got an easy quarter (mile) and then an easy half, and I just decided to punch it when we turned for home. She got to wandering around, but we were able to hold ’em off.”

Welken returned mutuels of $5.20, $2.80 and $2.10. Hermione’s Magic, who was coming out of three stakes races, paid $3.40 and $2.60. Zilla, who finished 1 ½ lengths further back in third with Joel Rosario aboard, paid $4 to show.

It was Welken’s second victory in addition to a second-place finish since being claimed by trainer Mike Mitchell on behalf of Nick Alexander last Dec. 31.

“Mike rode a great race, and that’s why I don’t like to give instructions,” Mitchell said in the winner’s circle. “I like to let them figure it out. If we can get another race like this, we’ll try to run her back before the end of the meet (April 18).”

The winning purse of $31,200 elevated Welken’s career earnings to $245,879.

PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $74,546 INTO FRIDAY, TOTAL SANTA ANITA POOL COULD BE $500,000

A Pick Six carryover of $74,546 awaits Santa Anita players on Friday, with the possibility of a total pool of $500,000 by third race post time.

Thursday’s Pick Six began in race three and it was won by Warren’s Tony R., who was ridden by Rafael Bejarano and paid $9.80 to win.  Owned and bred in California by Benjamin Warren, the 4-year-old colt by Lake George is trained by Jorge Gutierrez.

Bejarano made it two-in-a-row in race four, winning with Face and an Ace, who is trained by Paco Gonzalez.  A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Came Home, Face and an Ace is owned by his breeders, John and Cheryl Toffan.

Race five went to Princess Susan M, who paid $5.40 and provided Victor Espinoza with his second win on the day.  Trained by Eric Kruljak, the 5-year-old Florida-bred mare by Jump Start is owned by Miceli or Rose.

Race six produced the biggest upset of the day, as Neva Masquerade, under Christian Santiago Reyes, paid $20.60 to win.  Trained by Gregg Matties, the winner, a 3-year-old California-bred gelding by Siberian Summer, is owned by his breeders, Matties Racing Stable, LLC.

The ultra consistent Welken took Thursday’s seventh at one mile on grass, paying $5.20 to win under Mike Smith.  Owned by Nick Alexander, the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Sky Classic is trained by Mike Mitchell.

Thursday’s eighth race was won by Nathaniel, who paid $6.80 to win with Martin Pedroza up.  A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Mizzen Mast, Nathaniel is trained by Mike Machowsky and is owned by Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Warren Jr.

First post time on Friday is 1 p.m.  The Pick Six will cover races three through eight.