Zimmerman closing in on Zayas in Gulfstream standings

Jockey Ramsey Zimmerman will head into the four-day race week at Gulfstream Park with plenty of momentum after winning nine races last week at the south Florida track.

Zimmerman trails only Edgard Zayas in the Gulfstream jockeys’ standings after his latest spree, which furthers an inspiring comeback effort for the 32-year-old jockey. He swept the first three races Sunday after winning three Saturday.

Zimmerman, who spent time in jail in 2011 for a drug conviction and later took off 15 months for personal reasons, worked primarily for J.J. Crupi on an Ocala, Fla., farm in 2013 before returning to action March 9 at Gulfstream. In all, he has ridden 49 winners in the latest comeback in a career that began in 1998. He has six mounts Thursday and seven Friday.

“I’m working hard, and I love it here,” he told Gulfstream publicity.

Zimmerman has 18 winners at the new meet that began July 1, while Zayas leads with 21. No other jockey is in double digits.

Rainbow 6 at $50,000

Once again, the carryover in the Rainbow 6 jackpot wager is $50,000 into Thursday, with Gulfstream continuing to guarantee the pool with seeded money.

Wagering into the 20-cent Rainbow 6 was $34,882 on Saturday and $40,540 on Sunday, with takeout and consolation payoffs accounting for the $50,000 threshold not having been surmounted yet.

The Thursday sequence runs from races 4 through 9. The nominal feature, a $39,000 filly-and-mare turf allowance, starts the wager.

◗ Gulfstream racing officials were expecting a solid field when entries were taken Wednesday for the weekend feature, the $75,000 Soaring Softly Stakes on Saturday. Possible contenders in the one-mile turf race include Adriani, Angelica Zapata, Dreamlicious, E Z Ryder, and Miss Emelina.