[Kasept]

Big money up for grabs with Rainbow 6 mandatory payout
By Mike Welsch

There could be $5 million or more on the line when Gulfstream Park empties out the Rainbow 6 jackpot Saturday, a pot that has grown since March 18.

The Rainbow 6 will be conducted, as always, on the last six races on the 11-race program. That sequence includes a pair of stakes carded on the turf, the Grade 3 Miami Mile and the Powder Break. A single ticket costs 20 cents, and the pool will be paid out no matter how many people come up with a ticket containing all six winners. Normally, the Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid only if there is a single, unique ticket with the winning combination.

The following are some thoughts on how to approach the sequence Saturday.

Race 6: A full field of a dozen bottom-level maiden claimers can often prove formidable, but there are probably enough legitimate throw-outs to cut this group down to size. B. F. FOREVER is a must-use coming off a career-best effort that followed a sharp five-furlong work, with the caveat that he did get a perfect rail-skimming trip against a very weak bunch last out. STARSHIP VERDICT, who was hung wide and is likely to improve with blinkers and a couple of races under his belt, will be tossed in along with ROCKET BOULEVARD, who disputed the winner’s pace that day and held on bravely once displaced in front to finish third. I also would include TITOTIME, a stranger to this weak category who drops to the bottom for the first time and is coming off a bullet work.


Race 7: CORDERO, coming off the layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher, looks like the lone speed and is hard to ignore at a short price. BULL ENSIGN looks interesting while adding blinkers for a barn with a huge $7.77 return on investment with this kind of equipment change. I have always liked BOCA SCUTTLEBUTT, and though he’s disappointed on a couple of occasions, I will use him on backup tickets along with AS YOU LIKE IT.


Race 8: MAJESTIC BREEZE drops into the category for the first time off a couple of improved efforts for Ralph Nicks and should get the right pace setup, which makes him a must-use. BOOM BOOM FRANKIE was floundering a bit when taken up nearing midstretch in his last, but the barn is red-hot, and he too is trying conditioned claimers for the first time today. SUM MIDNIGHT STAR is a question mark on grass but a new face to the category as well and could offer a little value. ALL MY MEMORIES demands respect off the claim and a near miss with the same kind.


Race 9 The stakes is wide open, and spreading here seems logical. STORMING INTI exits a pretty strong race and really figures to benefit from that outing. GRAND TITO has a little hang in him, but he’s been holding his own against much stronger and simply cannot be ignored. MIDDLEBURG never has been better and reunites with rider Jose Lezcano for trainer Christophe Clement, and that’s too potent an owner-trainer combo to leave out. HAMMERS TERROR steps up off a well-graded win, and after working well on the main track for his new connections, he might prove the sleeper for the Rainbow 6. INCHCAPE is parked out wide but is another logical contender in this race, which might be decided by who gets the best trip.


Race 10: It’s easy to single DISCREET MARQ in this one since she holds a decided class edge over the field, with the lone concern all the speed in this lineup. For those wanting to back her up, BAFFLE ME would be the first option, with late runners like E B RYDER and LORI’S STORE also potential upset threats if the favorite is not up to her best.


Race 11: Being alive to an “all ticket” in the finale would be nice, but for those who cannot afford such a luxury, I’d narrow the field down to the logical choice BLUEGRASS JAM, who takes a big class drop after being bogged down on a dead rail in his last, and WROL UP, who earned a big number going a mile despite also racing in the deep going near the fence for much of the trip. MYBROTHERJOHNNYA, another against the bias in his last, might try to steal this one on the front end from the rail at a price, while MEGALITH ran well last time despite being closest to the dead rail among the top three finishers in the race.