Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The record-breaking Pick-9 eluded punters for the 16th consecutive raceday at Caymanas Park last Saturday, and the carryover to tomorrow's race meet stands at a whopping $27.9 million.

With Pick-9 fever expected to grip the park from early, indications are that the Pick-9 will top $35 million if caught.

It was anticipated that it would have reached $30 million last Saturday, but fell $2.1 million short of that target.

A Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) spokesman attributed this to the fact that the Pick-9 had to compete with two Super-6s and, although sales went through the roof, Super-6 activity ate into Pick-9 sales.

Meanwhile, the Pick-9 will embrace races races three to 11 on the card, while the Super-6 will be conducted from race five to 10.

We normally look at the Super-6 races, but with the Pick-9 taking the spotlight, the focus for the time being is in that direction.

It kicks off with a round five race for high claimers to be contested by eight starters, including top contenders CHARMING LUTHER, DAN-CING SAM, DIESEL and SECRET HIDEAWAY with cham-pion jockey Omar Walker aboard.

KEEN COMPETITION

The speedballs SECRET HIDE-AWAY and DANCING SAM should ensure keen competition in a race of this nature, but the one to beat must surely be the sparingly raced CHARMING LUTHER, who led for a long way when finishing fifth to TRIPLE ACCOUNT over the straight on June 28.

Briefly, SMILE OUT, who has finished second in her last two races, and LA'S DANCER should fight out the finish of the fourth race over 1200 metres, and both should be carried by Pick-9 players in a field of nine.

JET SKIER, who was not beaten far by UNBREAKABLE HEART over the straight recently, is preferred to the lightly raced but improving ENGLISH STORM in the fifth, while FIRST PRINCESS (getting act together) and RULE BY SECRECY (fit) should both be carried in the sixth over 1400 metres.

AHWHOFAH, the last horse to beat Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA back in March, has trained well for the seventh and gets the nod over stable companion THE GUARDIAN and MACHISMO.

BADJEROS ROSE, a back-to-back winner in May, and BORN FIGHTER should both be used in the eighth, while take SWEET-SUGARDUMPLIN (knocking at the door) in the 9th, NATURALLY ROYAL (working well) ahead of stable companion SKYWAY EXPRESS in the 10th, before closing off with down-in-class HOME TOWN GIRL in the nightpan.

PICK-9 FANCIES

(3) CHARMING LUTHER/

DANCING SAM/DIESEL

(4) SMILE OUT/LA'S DANCER

(5) JET SKIER/ENGLISH

STORM

(6) FIRST PRINCESS/RULE BY SECRECY

(7) AHWHOFAH/

THE GUARDIAN

(8) BADJEROS ROSE/

BORN FIGHTER

(9) SWEETSUGARDUMPLIN

(10) NATURALLY ROYAL/

SKYWAY EXPRESS/

FREE FALL

(11) HOMETOWNGIRL/

RED GENERAL