Sweetwater a possible single in Rainbow 6 on Thursday

There’s not so much as one allowance on the 11-race Thursday card at Gulfstream Park, but with St. Patrick’s Day and the Rainbow 6, will anyone really notice?

The Rainbow 6 carryover surged past the $3.25 million mark Sunday at the south Florida track, and assuming that the huge jackpot wasn’t taken down Wednesday on the 45th racing day since it was last swept, horseplayers will be going for the green yet again – while wearing their green in celebrating the Irish holiday.

Back-to-back starter-optional races with $35,000 purses serve as nominal features on a Thursday card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern, and both are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence that runs from races 6-11.

The first starter (race 9) is for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, with Sweetwater a deserving favorite for Happy Alter and Saffie Joseph.

The second starter (race 10) is a filly-and-mare turf route in which Todd Pletcher either will be going for the 4,000th victory of his illustrious career or simply starting on his next thousand when he sends out Tybalt’s Queen as his only starter anywhere Thursday. Pletcher stood at 3,999 wins prior to Wednesday, when his lone starter of the day was the favored Vinny White Shoes.

Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Sweetwater, by Twirling CandyLast 3 Beyers: 62-58-50

◗ She was beaten just a length at this same condition last month in her first try since being claimed for $50,000 and will have leading jockey Javier Castellano back aboard.

Scoff, by Discreetly MineLast 3 Beyers: 17-70-56

◗ Soundly defeated in the same Feb. 4 race in which Sweetwater was second, she can be easily forgiven because of a rough start while given a solid chance here as the potential controlling speed from the outside.

Race 10

KEY CONTENDERS

Giant’s Jewel, by Giant’s CausewayLast 3 Beyers: 75-72-76

◗ This Sullimar homebred remedied what had been an ugly 1-for-25 career mark by getting a confidence-building triumph on the class drop in her latest. She comes favorably drawn in post 2 in a race that’s extremely well matched and seems unlikely to be targeted by Rainbow 6 players seeking a single.

Tybalt’s Queen, by Shakespeare Last 3 Beyers: 71-67-69

◗ Owned by the same folks who gave you Princess of Sylmar, this Florida-bred filly raises slightly in class off a solid effort six weeks ago while retaining Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.