Return of Math Wizard overshadowed by huge Rainbow 6 pool

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As if the forceout of another sizable Rainbow 6 carryover would not provide excitement enough Saturday at Gulfstream Park, the sequence will also feature the return of Grade 1 winner Math Wizard, who will make his first start at Gulfstream in nearly 15 months in the $55,000 Coaltown Handicap.

The one-mile Coaltown, which also lured two-time Grade 3 winner Diamond Oops, is the penultimate leg of the Rainbow 6 sequence, to be decided over the final half of a 12-race program that begins at noon. The forecast Thursday was for a 70 to 80 percent chance of rain.

If not hit on Friday, the Rainbow 6 carryover going into Saturday’s program will approach $2 million and could result in a pool somewhere in the vicinity of the $10 million mark by the time the final 20-cent ticket is punched. As of Thursday, the Rainbow 6 had not been solved over 19 consecutive programs, since the most recent mandatory forceout of the pool on May 9 resulted in a $31,476 payout.

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Math Wizard, who is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., has not started since an eighth-place finish in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17. He has not run over his home track at Gulfstream Park since March 15, 2019, when he finished second in a $50,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds. In between those two outings, Math Wizard ran eight times, with his lone victory during the span a neck decision as a 31-1 outsider in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. A former $16,000 claimer, Math Wizard went on to finish fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Math Wizard has had six works since the Razorback, including a bullet five furlongs in 58.07 on May 31. Math Wizard was equipped with a set of blinkers for that work and will race with blinkers on Saturday. He will have Paco Lopez aboard and carry 123 pounds, two less than Diamond Oops.

“It’s time to get him back started and see where we are,” Joseph said. “I wanted to try an allowance first, where we wouldn’t have caught a horse like Diamond Oops, but it didn’t go. This was the next step. I’m putting blinkers back on because it seems to help him go on about his business rather than waiting on horses. The mile should be right up his alley. Obviously I’d like to see some pace, but he has a really good turn of foot and should give a good account of himself.”

Diamond Oops, who has not started since finishing fourth, six lengths behind winner Mucho Gusto, in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25, will carry high weight of 125 pounds, including Luca Panici. He won the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector last year to close out a 4-year-old campaign that included second-place finishes in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga and Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

“We decided to give him a break and then the virus came,” said trainer Patrick Biancone. “He’s had no runs for 130 days, that’s why we want to run him Saturday. He’s a big, strong horse and he’s training well, but he’ll need a race for sure. He has to carry a lot of weight, but we need to start someplace. We have plans for the Met Mile at the moment. We’ll see if he runs up to form Saturday.”

The field for the Coaltown also includes the multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Noble Drama, coming off a sharp second behind Network Effect in the Big Drama Stakes, as well as Eye of a Jedi, Colour Guard, Red Crescent, Wentz, and Letruska, the lone filly in the field.

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The following is a capsule look at the Rainbow 6 sequence

Race 7

With rain in the forecast, the $2.5 million yearling purchase TATWEEJ demands plenty of respect as a main-track-only entrant if the race comes off the grass. If not, it may take a big spread to stay alive with likely pacesetter IMPERIAL MOMENT among the preferred choices along with METCALF and LEADING WEST. There’s a big question mark on Joseph’s first-time starter ALASTOR as well.

Race 8

There’s lots of pace with MAN WITH A PLAN the fastest if he breaks cleanly and the one to beat if he doesn’t regress after a well-graded win against older horses three weeks earlier. A speed jam should enhance the chances of SHANGHAI MOON, while SMASH gets some class and distance relief after being overmatched in his last pair.

Race 9

Main-track-only entrants THE QUEENS JULES and ANIMAL TRICK are preferred if there is a surface change from the turf. On grass, the most logical are HOT AND HEAVY and DONJI, if you toss his last race, which came in the slop. But several others can get into the picture with the right trip.

Race 10

FLAWLESS MOON, off a wide-running third vs. better, is the logical choice. NEVERSTOPDREAMING should also appreciate the class relief after racing against the grain of a track bias last time. For prices, the idled BIBLEMAN and RESERVENOTATTAINED are worth tossing in off fast works. They need to stay out of each other’s way during early stages.

Race 11

It just may be a question of how much DIAMOND OOPS needs a race returning for the first time since a solid effort in the Pegasus. High weight or not, he is the best of these if close to ready. MATH WIZARD looked good with the blinkers back on in a recent work, and should be coming strong at end. Must toss in NOBLE DRAMA off an improved showing behind the very talented Network Effect. He can be along if the top pair are not up to peak efforts off the bench.

Race 12

If you’re still alive, would be nice to have some coverage in finale. Many will likely single class-dropping JUST KIDDING, but he could face some real pace pressure, especially if SO LONG CHUCK goes, which could set things up for DEXTER ROAD, who had an unlucky trip last time and got bogged down against the bias two back. Trainer Carlos David is going good now. You might want to toss in his turf specialist COULD BE at a bit of a price.