Saturday's Los Alamitos Pick 6 carryover stands at $308,191

For the third consecutive racing day and for the fifth time in six days of the Winter Thoroughbred meet, there were no perfect Pick Six tickets Friday, so there will be a carryover of $308,191 when racing resumes Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The carryover is the largest since thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in July, 2014.

There were no winning favorites in the sequence Friday with the biggest upset provided by Midnight Toast, who paid $39.80 in winning the third under jockey Jamie Theriot.

Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. The Pick Six will begin in the third race, which has a scheduled post time of 1:28 p.m. The sequence will not include the $180,000 Winter Challenge, which features the last start in California of California Chrome, and goes as the ninth and final race.

Rim Ditch won for the second time in his last three starts on dirt, leading throughout in Friday’s $32,050 feature at Los Alamitos.

The 5-1 third choice in the field of seven 2-year-olds, the Ministers Wild Cat gelding popped the gate under apprentice Chad Lindsay, opened up a sizable lead through a half-mile in 44.76 seconds, then held off 10-1 shot R Cha Cha to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths.

Trained by Victor Fernandez for owners Johnny Garcia and Antonio Romero, Rim Ditch, who is out of the Mazel Trick mare Swift Trick, completed the five furlongs on a windy afternoon in 56.82. Now 2-for-6 lifetime, the California bred has earned $62,865 and returned $13.60, $7.60 and $4.

Making his first start for Calvin Nguyen and trainer Jim Kasparoff after being claimed for $25,000 out of a debut victory Nov. 11 at Golden Gate Fields, R Cha Cha paid $11.80 and $4 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of 11-10 favorite Derby Music. The show price on Derby Music was $2.40.

With two days remaining in the Winter Thoroughbred meet, Norberto Arroyo, Jr. and Joe Talamo are tied atop the jockey standings. Each has five victories. Tyler Baze, Agapito Delgadillo and Jamie Theriot all have four.

The top trainer through six days is Robertino Diodoro. He has three wins. Seven trainers -  including defending Winter meet champion Doug O’Neill - are tied with two wins apiece.

Racing resumes Saturday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 12:30 p.m.

The highlight of the program is the $180,000 Winter Challenge featuring the first start at Los Alamitos – and final race in California – for California Chrome.

The Challenge, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles, will serve as the 5-year-old Lucky Pulpit horse’s prep for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, which is to be his last race for owners Taylor Made Farm and co-breeder Perry Martin and trainer Art Sherman before he begins his stud career in Kentucky.

Twelve were entered in the Challenge, but only 10 will be allowed to start. California Chrome drew post 10 as he seeks his 16th win in his 26th start. The 2014 Horse of the Year, who has won 10 graded stakes, has been based at Los Alamitos since January, 2014.

The Challenge, which will go as the ninth and final race – scheduled post time is 4:28 p.m. – will not be part of the Pick Six. The sequence will be offered on races 3-8 Saturday. It will also not offer place or show wagering.

There is also a Los Alamitos beanie hat giveaway Saturday – one per paid admission while supplies last – and a live money handicapping contest in which at least three seats to the 2017 Daily Racing Form National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. A fourth seat to the NHC will become available if the contest attracts 120 or more entrants.

The program will also feature the $100,000-guaranteed Soviet Problem. The one-mile race is for 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California. Sircat Sally, an impressive debut winner Nov. 20 for owner-breeder Joe Turner and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Soviet Problem.  It will go as the second race and has a scheduled post time of 12:58 p.m.