Completely Bonkers freshened for turf mile

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Rainbow 6 carryover will begin at nearly $340,000 when racing resumes Wednesday at Gulfstream Park. Among the races in the sequence is a tough, entry-level optional-claiming/allowance for Florida-breds that drew a well-matched field of 11 going one mile on the turf.

The horse to beat in the headliner may be Completely Bonkers, who missed by a neck under similar conditions here in his most recent start Dec. 9. Trainer Bobby Dibona said he decided to freshen the 4-year-old son of Giacomo after that race, which seems to have done a world of good.

“Obviously, losing a close decision like we did in his last start was frustrating,” Dibona said. “He’d run several races close together, so giving him the time off has helped, and he’s coming into this race doing very well. Luis [Saez] is riding really well right now, he wanted to ride him back, and he really knows this horse now, having been on him a couple of times, so there really won’t be a whole lot for me to say to him in the paddock other than, ‘Good luck.’ ”

Niche, who has split his last two decisions with Completely Bonkers, also will be among the key contenders while reuniting with jockey Javier Castellano for the first time since being haltered by his present connections for $16,000 nearly a year ago. Niche should again be able to control the pace while likely pressed early on by Tampa Bay Downs invader Salsa Dog.

Bow Tie Affair finally captured his never-won-two condition after numerous tries two starts back at Aqueduct. He is perfect over the local turf course, having earned his diploma here in 2015, and owns the highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, an 85, for his second-place finish against open, $40,000 claiming opposition in his 2016 finale.

Those who can afford to spread widely on their Rainbow 6 tickets may also want to include Prince Vincenzo, Total Joint, and Starship Zorro for coverage.

Prince Vincenzo returns to statebred competition for the first time since finishing a late-running sixth with a 91 Beyer in the 2015 Sunshine Millions Turf. He was haltered for $25,000 here last March and will be making just his second start since mid-June.

Total Joint hails from the dangerous barn of Jason Servis and seeks to make amends for a sixth-place finish against the same kind at Gulfstream Park West in his latest start Nov. 13 while making his second career start on grass. He had finished second, beaten a nose, in his turf debut at Monmouth Park eight weeks prior.

Starship Zorro gets some class relief after finishing a distant fifth while racing on just nine days’ rest in the Sunshine Millions Turf.