The Empire 6 jackpot-style multi-race wager was first introduced to New York horseplayers at the Saratoga meet. The wager generated over $2.5 million in new money, on top of the $438,000 carryover, for the first mandatory payout on Aug. 18. The pool for the second payout then exceeded $5.3 million on closing day of the meet. On Sunday, the wager is scheduled to be distributed for the first time since the Belmont meet began on Sept. 6. Coming into the Friday card, the carryover stood at $626,093. The Empire 6 is a 20-cent minimum wager and Sunday’s sequence begins with the fifth race. The first two legs are for 2-year-old maidens with full fields of 12. Race 6 also holds a pair of also eligible runners, so check the scratches before proceeding. The fifth, for New York-bred fillies carrying claiming tags of $50,000, includes four first-time starters and seven fillies dropping out of maiden special weight competition. Without a horse to trust, some coverage might be called for here. The main ticket for me will include Top Hat Invasion (No. 1), who was wide and staying on gamely at this level last time; class-dropping second-time starter Be Magic (9); and the Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter Broadway Angel (4). Race 6 is a maiden special weight sprint for juvenile fillies and is full of well-bred and well-connected first-time starters. The experienced Kansas Kis (3) is a must-use as she raced very greenly in her Saratoga debut before finally getting herself straightened out to just miss second. Power Move (2), Amazing Ride (6), Lake Avenue (7), Strike Magic (8), and even Orsay (13, on the also-eligible list) are all first-time starters to consider, or at least to follow closely going forward. The tote board may be of some help here with multi-race wager will-pays available to screen before making final decisions. Race 7 is the Grade 3 Futurity for 2-year-olds sprinting six furlongs on the Widener turf course. Four Wheel Drive (4) debuted in the $100,000 Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs for Wesley Ward, and won over a solid field with a 79 Beyer. He is well bred and is a must-use as he picks up Irad Ortiz Jr. for his second start. I would also cover Freewheeler (1), Another Miracle (5), and Jack and Noah (6) in some fashion. The Grade 1 Flower Bowl is race 8 and it goes straight through the heavily favored Sistercharlie (2). She is likely going to be singled on many tickets, so beating her is the path to a big payday, but she is better than these horses and something would have to go wrong for her to lose this race as she heads to a defense of her Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf title. Race 9 is the Grade 1 Frizette, which has pulled a field of seven 2-year-old fillies going a mile on the main track. Frank’s Rockette (9) has been a little unlucky in her last two races vs. graded stakes company, and drawing outside this time with a switch to John Velazquez really helps her cause, but as things stand she doesn’t hold a huge edge on this field. Her speed makes her a must-use, but fillies like Quality Response (1), Daphne Moon (2) and Wicked Whisper (3) all have something to recommend them and can easily pull off what would be a only a minor upset. Race 10 is a maiden claimer for New York-breds scheduled for seven furlongs on turf. The Kitten’s Joy gelding Snow Lion (4) is interesting making his first start. He runs for the talented young trainer Kelsey Danner, who sent out a big-price debut winner on turf at Saratoga, also for these owners. Alphalfa (8) did not run well when dropped back to this level as the favorite last time, but he ran a race first time out over this course and distance that would make him tough. Zechariah (11) gets class relief and a trainer change to Jonathan Thomas. This is another race where you may want to take as much coverage as you can afford.