Cruzin Man a likely single in Rainbow 6 mandatory payout
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If it’s Sunday in south Florida, then it is mandatory Rainbow 6 payoff day at Gulfstream Park.
What has now become a regular weekly occurrence will continue Sunday with an estimated jackpot in the vicinity of $500,000. The six-race sequence will encompass races 4 through 9, highlighted by a first-level allowance and optional-claiming dash going five furlongs on the turf, carded as the eighth race, with Cruzin Man likely a heavy favorite and potential single on many a Rainbow 6 ticket.
Cruzin Man returns to the turf and the level at which he produced an 89 Beyer Speed Figure two starts back under similar conditions as Sunday’s main event. He was pressed on the lead from gate to wire before emerging with a well-deserved neck decision over Sosua Summer. The effort was flattered when Sosua Summer stepped up to defeat arguably better competition that included Cruzin Man when switching over to the synthetic track five weeks later.
But those who feel Cruzin Man could prove vulnerable at a short price in the penultimate leg of the sequence can point to the fact that he projects to be engaged on the lead by the lone 3-year-old in the field, the red-hot Fourth and Central. He won his last two starts but finished a tiring sixth in his only previous try with older horses.
In contrast to the 3-year-old Fourth and Central is the seasoned 10-year-old veteran Xy Speed, a late-running turf sprint specialist who will be getting considerable class relief dropping in under a $25,000 price tag in his 57th lifetime start. Xy Speed has finished second in half of his eight previous outings, all against stiffer competition, thus far in 2026.
Xy Speed could prove a viable alternative to the favorite, along with the in-form Quizler, a five-time winner on grass, who figures to be finishing best of all exiting a pair of strong efforts going a mile on the grass.
The Rainbow 6 sequence kicks off with the first of three races over the main track, a $50,000 maiden optional claimer topped by Pan Pan and Lady Rockula, both of whom exit second-place finishes against maiden special weight opposition at last asking. Pan Pan is a bit of a question mark, however, returning to the main track off a steady diet of turf races, while Lady Rockula is a hanging sort who remains winless, albeit with seven in-the-money finishes in 12 lifetime starts.
Forgotten About looks like a logical alternative to the likely favorites after being backed to 3-2 only to encounter bad racing luck when sent seven furlongs by trainer David Fawkes in his career debut on Aug. 10.
The remainder of the Rainbow 6 sequence breaks down as follows:
Race 5
Hands of Time might be a worthy single in his current form coming off two consecutive gate-to-wire victories, including a game neck tally five weeks earlier. That victory has turned out to be a key race, with two of his victims coming back to win their subsequent starts. Trained by Heather Smullen, Hands of Time projects to be loose on the lead once again and might stand some catching despite jumping up against tougher starter allowance opposition on Sunday.
Hands of Time may have to fend off his stablemate Disattached, a runner-up and beaten favorite in each of his last two starts, to keep his modest win streak alive.
Race 6
This one could prove a real challenge and worth taking a little spread with six of the eight starters making their career debuts going six furlongs on the main track.
There are no standouts, breeding-wise, in the lineup, though Majestic Ruler and Redbad for trainer Jose D’Angelo and Articulated from the potent barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. all figure to garner plenty of support off near bullet works last weekend at Palm Meadows.
Race 7
D’Angelo also appears to have a major player, Tybee Echo, in leg four. He stretches out to a flat mile second off the claim in this wide-open field of lower-level conditioned claimers. Teofino, second best in his only previous try in this company, and Taparino, a winner of just one start in 21 previous appearances, are also logical options.
Race 9
The lone Tapeta race in the sequence also serves as the finale, with no free passes here. It’s a head-scratcher of a bottom-level maiden claimer at 1 1/16 miles that lured eight starters who bring a combined 0-for-65 record into the event. Holy Cow has registered 10 of those losses but does get a significant and very positive jockey switch, going from a triple-bug rider to the veteran Miguel Vasquez.
Fifteen Hundred R, who recorded a career-best 53 Beyer when trying Tapeta for the first time earlier this month, is also worth a look along with the gradually improving Rudi.
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