King: Gulfstream Rainbow 6 play for Saturday, April 25
With a carryover of more than $1.45 million and a mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6 on Saturday at Gulfstream, horseplayers from all over will be shooting to take home a chunk of the massive pool. The small 20-cent minimum could result in many deep-pocketed players spreading very deep, perhaps creating value on more likely outcomes. So, here is a modest ticket costing $102.40, playing four horses apiece in half of the races and a pair of runners in the three others.
This column was written Friday, so scratches could change the cost of the wager and/or the dynamics of playing a given race. Dry conditions are forecasted for Saturday.
Race 6
Up first is a maiden $12,500 heat, and with such types of horses not being the most dependable of sorts, I advise to spread a bit. I’ll try four horses, listed in program order, not necessarily in order of preference: B. F. Forever (2), Starship Verdict (5), Titotime (10), and Lavandero. Of these, B. F. Forever and Titotime are fastest when at their best, but their inconsistency requires the use of a couple of others to feel somewhat safe.
Race 7
This straight maiden race on the grass appears mediocre. And, generally, when races appear this way, favorites aren’t as dependable, being made the chalk because the others look just so-so, not because they’re of exceptional ability. Again, I’ll go four deep, using Boca Scuttlebutt (2), As You Like It (3), Strike With Mike (5), and Cordero (7).
Race 8
This $30,000, nonwinners-of-two claimer looks like it will be won by either All My Memories (3), an in-form runner who was recently claimed by high-percentage connections, or allowance dropper Majestic Breeze (8), who won the last time he raced for a tag, taking a maiden $30,000 race in fast time earlier this year at Gulfsteam.
Race 9
The first of two stakes is next, the Grade 3 Miami Mile on the grass, and contention runs deep. A number of horses have similar credentials and speed figures, and the race may ultimately come down to who gets the best trip. Middleburg (1), Hammers Terror (5), Grand Tito (6), and Storming Inti (7) are the ones I advise using. Middleburg and Grand Tito look like the two best, while Hammers Terror and Storming Inti also have good credentials and race for winning turf stables.
Race 10
The Power Break for girls drew a large field but likely will have a clear-cut favorite in Discreet Marq (10). She is a Grade 1 winner, albeit a combacking one, racing in an ungraded stakes to kick off her year. Obviously, she is a must-use, but since she is unraced since November, I’m inclined to also throw in Baffle Me (9). She just ran fourth with a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Honey Fox on this course in her first start of 2015.
Race 11
Last up is an $8,000 claimer for horses winless since Oct. 25, and the class-dropping Bluegrass Jam (3) suits the conditions best. I thought about singling him, but when dealing with struggling claimers, it’s hard to rely on anyone too much, no matter how good they look on form. Be A Bull (4) also goes on the tickets. He has been competitive in three straight against similar despite wide trips.
The Ticket
Playing a 20-cent Rainbow 6 ticket of 2,5,10,12 with 2,3,5,7 with 3,8 with 1,5,6,7 with 9,10 with 3,4 results in 512 combinations and a cost of $102.40.