Aqueduct | Race 2 | Post Time 1:22 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

Weird week all over the place. Our “good key” at Gulfstream, Palomita, whom we thought would go off maybe third choice, got pounded at the windows down to 9-to-10, and then after settling nicely on the pace, got pounded into second place by a boom winner, but at least filled out a $17 exacta. Then on Santa Anita’s inundated track our “quickie” Pick, Polar, got stuck on the rail as he went to press the lead and suddenly called it quits after a half mile to finish somewhere up the coast.

As a way to illustrate just how difficult the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 7-12) looks Saturday, I’ll be taking a crack at the first three legs by playing a little pick-3 ticket. The final three legs are just as tricky, so whoever is helping to empty the forced-out jackpot either (A) will be spreading quite freely or (B) is very lucky and/or very good at sniffing out winners on this particular day.

Here’s my first half of the Rainbow:

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SPECTACULAR GEM
Trainer: James Baker
Last race: Feb. 2, race 7
Finish: 2^nd, beaten 1 1/4 lengths
Beyer: 82

Don’t mean to jock-knock, but the rider seemed to get the rhythm of this all mixed up with an early, early move to the lead at the half-mile pole. Was in front for a long way and the second-to-last furlong in 11.89 left him vulnerable to winner, who just sat on the fence to pounce at the last. Second straight solid FG turf performance. 

Race 2: Siena Magic (#5)

Is versatile enough to adapt to almost any pace scenario, having run well on the lead and from off the pace.

Has shown plenty of grit and determination in his last two starts.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Rudy Rodriguez is 4 for 11 (36 percent, $3.80 ROI) first off the claim with last-out maiden winners on dirt.

5-2 on ML

Thanks to the rescheduling of last week’s San Marcos, Santa Anita has a graded stakes tripleheader on Saturday. The Grade 2, $200,000 San Marcos shares the spotlight with the Grade 2, $200,000 Las Virgenes and the Grade 3, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes.

There are four stakes on Tampa Bay’s card, three of which are Grade 3 events – the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (the weekend’s lone Kentucky Derby points race), and the Tampa Bay and Endeavour Stakes, which are worth $175,000 each.

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:59 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Race 7: Hit It Once More (#7)

Ran better than it appears after setting a fast pace going two turns last time.

Should be able to secure the early lead from his outside post position going this one-turn distance.

Has shown himself capable of earning speed figures that make him competitive against this field.

12-1 on ML

:: Get TimeformUS PPs for these races at Aqueduct

WILD WIGGLIN JACK
Trainer: Dennis Ward
Date: February 3rd, 6th
Finish: 5th by 8 3/4
Beyer: 63
Unable to run with the sharp odds-on winner, but given a class drop he figures tough next time. Off-the-board finish muddies his form somewhat, but he is sharp enough to beat lesser.

LUNDVQUIST
Trainer: John Terranova
Date: February 3rd, 7th
Finish: 9th by 11 3/4

AWE EMMA  
Trainer: Steve Asmussen  
Last race: Feb. 3, 5th  
Finish: 1st by 9 1/4   
Beyer: 81
Daughter of War Front and the Grade 1-winning millionaire Awesome Maria won a one-mile race that ended at the sixteenth pole by a significant margin. The maiden special weight was the 4-year-old’s first start since July.

EARNEDNEVERGIVEN
Trainer: Norm McKnight
Last race: Feb. 3, 8th