Horse racing notes: Del Mar drops $2 Pick Six in favor of 20-cent ‘Rainbow Pick Six’

The track says there will be two mandatory payout days – Pacific Classic day on Aug. 21 and closing day, Sept. 6. Del Mar will continue to offer two Pick Fives and two Pick Fours, both of which are 50-cent wagers.

LOS ALAMITOS LEADERS

Final standings

JOCKEYS / WINS

Juan Hernandez / 9

Abel Cedillo / 8

Cesar Ortega / 7

Tyler Baze / 5

Mario Gutierrez / 4

Edwin Maldonado / 4

TRAINERS / WINS

Peter Miller / 4

Bob Baffert / 3

Philip D’Amato / 3

Steve Knapp / 3

Leonard Powell / 3

DOWN THE STRETCH

• Del Mar announced this week it is scrapping its traditional $2 Pick Six in favor of the 20-cent “Rainbow Pick Six” that rewards bettors handsomely if they’re the only ones holding a perfect ticket. Many tracks throughout the country, including Santa Anita, already have the 20-cent Pick Six. The track said there will be two mandatory payout days – Pacific Classic day on Aug. 21 and closing day, Sept. 6. Del Mar will continue to offer two Pick Fives and two Pick Fours, both of which are 50-cent wagers.

• The latest Breeders’ Cup Classic Top 10, released every Tuesday by Breeders’ Cup officials, continues to have Maxfield on top with 18 first-place votes to 10 for runner-up Mystic Guide, who retained his No. 2 ranking despite a second-place finish in last weekend’s Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park. Essential Quality (three first-place votes), Hot Rod Charlie and Silver State round out the top five. This voter’s top five: Maxfield, Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie, Silver State and Letruska.

• Los Alamitos’ Summer Thoroughbred Festival, which concluded Monday, showed a 10% increase in all-sources handle over comparable dates in 2019, the last time fans were permitted to attend. Thirty-eight different trainers and 50 different owners/partnerships won races during the meet. “I believe it is important for the health of racing in California that some owners and trainers enjoy more success at Los Alamitos than either Santa Anita or Del Mar,” Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau said in a statement.

— Art Wilson