After a $2.2 million winner, there's still a Rainbow 6 mandatory payout

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just two days before a mandatory payout that would likely have attracted a pool of somewhere in the vicinity of $10 million on Sunday, one lucky player was the solo winner of the Rainbow 6 on Friday's twilight card, receiving a payoff of $2,211,783.62. The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for 47 consecutive racing programs dating back to July 6 when hit for $173,583.

As a result, the mandatory payout of Sunday's Rainbow 6 will carry far less significance. Enthusiasm may be additionally tempered by the imposing sequence of races served up by the racing office. The bet begins in the sixth race with a 14-horse field of 2-year-old maidens that includes nine first-time starters. And it doesn’t get any easier from there, with the five subsequent fields having 13, 10, 13, 10, and 11 horses, respectively. Three of those races are for claiming and maiden-claiming horses on the grass.

In other words, it is likely going to take some very deep pockets to come up with a 20-cent ticket that will include all six winners.

Trying to narrow down the contenders is no easy task, but with that in mind, the following is a breakdown of the races that will make up the Rainbow 6 on Sunday.

Race 6: Although the racing office used its six biggest fields of the day in the Rainbow 6, at least it was kind enough to make this 14-horse maiden race the opening leg, giving players the opportunity to see the tote board before putting in their final tickets. There are options aplenty among this group, and those who can afford it will likely spread far and wide to stay alive.

Easy Day was bet to 9-5 at first asking and dropped a tight photo after contesting the pace. He is a half to Grade 3 winner Outsider and is a must-use. Top Draw finished a distant third debuting at Monmouth Park for trainer Todd Pletcher, but must overcome the outside post.

Of the new faces, King Guillermo, a son of Uncle Mo, is working bullets locally and should be considered along with Ghost Fighter, a son of Tapit who brought $500,000 as a yearling and has shown promise prepping for his debut at Palm Meadows. For those looking to go deeper, Uno Baby Bird looks playable as well.

Race 7: A field of 13 bottom-level conditioned claimers usually means spread time again. The two most likely winners appear to be Oblio’s Wish, who is returning to the level he was claimed at two starts back, and impressive maiden breaker Aguas Coloradas, who will be trying winners for the first time. Susikin looks intriguing while switching back to grass for high-percentage trainer Gilberto Zerpa. She just might try to steal this one on the front end. Charge It Jenn and Tweety Kitten will likely be tossed in by those with larger bankrolls.

Race 8: I’ve kept at least five horses in this mid-level maiden claimer, with very little form to go on and a couple of new faces drawn outside. Four of those take a much-needed drop in class – Cazilda Fortytales, Itsenough, Rosalda, and Rack Daddy. The pace should be honest, so tossing in Better Angels might be prudent at a price since she has already shown the ability to pass horses and she’s yet to run over a fast track.

Race 9: A baker’s dozen again on the turf, with the trip likely to separate the leading contenders, among them the speedy So Long Chuck – who could be the most dangerous if he gets loose on the lead – My Point Exactly, and Til the End. All three will receive much-needed class relief dropping out of starter-allowance races won by the red-hot Cash Call Kitten.

Race 10: It doesn’t get much easier here while trying to sort out bottom-level conditioned claimers on the dirt. Lucky Fortune won by a pole as the odds-on favorite with a 65 Beyer on graduation day last out. That and his second to Totono two back makes him the top pick. Totono easily defeated this same kind in his next start and is riding a three-race win streak. Lawyer Drill will shed blinkers for Rainbow 6 day, in the hopes of containing his abundant speed, although he still figures loose on the lead. Mysterio has run numbers that would beat these and probably must be included, but is shaky at best with that 1-for-23 lifetime record.

Race 11: Anyone alive at this point should be commended. But unless they have enough swag in the bankroll to have afforded the “all” button, they’ll probably be sweating things out to the end of this bottom-level maiden claimer on grass. Most of the key contenders are exiting layoffs of three months or longer, including A I Initiative and Micah Man, idle three and seven months, respectively. Naughty has been away even longer since a big debut here Jan. 16, and hails from a barn still seeking its first win on the year. Bunyan’s Axe comes off a big effort behind class-dropping Zaya last time, drew the rail, and is a must-use.