Rainbow 6 jackpot to be paid; pool might reach $4 million
Large fields, ample turf action, and a competitive $65,000 Soldier’s Dancer Stakes will greet horseplayers chasing the Rainbow 6 jackpot, which has a mandatory payout Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
Track officials estimate the pool could reach $4 million.
The 20-cent bet will run on races 9-14. Gulfstream has drawn an average of 10.7 horses for each leg of the sequence. It’s a testing run for handicappers, with three turf races, two main-track sprints at a specialist’s distance of seven furlongs, and a route on the Tapeta.
The forecast is for a high of 89 degrees, with a 57 percent chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, according to AccuWeather.
The opening leg of the Rainbow 6 matches $16,000 claiming horses at a mile on turf. Stirling Drive is a class play as one who has been facing better. Race Craft is making only his second appearance on turf for a sire who gets 12 percent winners on the grass. On class, Race Craft gets points moving to the claiming ranks off a $20,000 starter allowance. Another player is Vettori Kin, who added blinkers last out and was a winner on a cutback in distance.
The 10th race is for $20,000 conditioned claiming horses at seven furlongs. Democracy appears to have a couple of variables in his favor. He draws post 8 one start after breaking from the rail, and the outside gate might give jockey Junior Alvarado options. Democracy also is shortening up from a mile. His last win came over six furlongs. Proud Contender exits a quick-paced race that came against better. He won his maiden at seven furlongs in February. Momza steps up in class off the claim, but has run well at this demanding distance.
It’s back to the turf for the 11th race, a $12,500 conditioned claimer over 1 1/16 miles. Isabella’s Dream has a chance to control the pace. He put up strong fractions and faded to eighth after breaking from a wide post last out, and before that won in good time at Gulfstream. In addition, the race Isabella’s Dream exits has already produced two next-out winners. Panadero is back at the distance of his last win.
The 12th race is a first-level allowance at seven furlongs and it is restricted to fillies and mares bred in Florida. American of Course has speed and is appealing as a three-time winner from 10 starts. Our Fantasy is a six-time winner who won a one-mile optional claimer in March and then ran third in a similar race April 23.
The Soldier’s Dancer, race 13, is a 7 1/2-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida. There appears to be no shortage of speed signed on, and as such it could set up for Me and Mr. C. The two-time stakes winner won over some of these last out in the $75,000 Mr. Steele.
Max K.O. could get a nice trip just off the pace.
“He likes to run prominent, either on the lead, or second, third,” trainer Saffie Jospeh Jr. said.
Max K.O. has placed in four stakes and is back at Gulfstream, where he is a four-time winner over the course.
Shivaree makes his turf debut for a stallion who gets 10 percent winners on the grass. Shivaree, 5, is a three-time stakes winner and earner of more than $550,000. Freedom Matters, who in April finished in front of Me and Mr. C, was entered in an overnight race for Friday at Gulfstream. If it is rained off the turf, he will run instead in the Soldier’s Dancer, said Joseph, his trainer. The race Freedom Matters exits has produced two next-out winners, including Me and Mr C.
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The final leg of the Rainbow 6 is a $20,000 conditioned-claiming race for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. Sinfulicious goes turf to Tapeta. Her trainer, Mike Maker, wins at a strong clip with synthetic-track starters from a large sample, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. Sinfulicious ran third last out in a $35,000 claiming race at a mile on turf. Cindy’s Song is proven on the synthetic track at Gulfstream. Rosa Star exits a quick-paced race, and from five starts on the Tapeta has run third four times.
Joseph pair lead Ginger Punch
Gulfstream also has carded the $65,000 Ginger Punch on Sunday. The 7 1/2-furlong turf race is for Florida-bred fillies and mares and it’s slotted as the sixth. Joseph will start possible favorite Sugar Fix and Lovely Luvy.
“They’re two competitive fillies that always try,” he said. “Sugar Fix we claimed and Lovely Luvy we’ve had a while. They’ve been consistent fillies for us.”
Sugar Fix is moving back into the Florida-bred ranks after a pair of starts against open company. She ran fourth in the Grade 3 Honey Fox in March and was fifth in the $100,000 Sand Springs in her most recent start April 2.
Lovely Luvy won the off-the-turf Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream in January over Sugar Fix. Alvarado has the mount on Lovely Luvy from post 4, and Gonzalez will be aboard Sugar Fix from post 3.
“Sugar Fix is better on the grass,” Joseph said. “If it comes off and runs on the Tapeta, Lovely Luvy, it improves her chances.”