Saturday’s Rainbow Six at Gulfstream Park boasts a mandatory payout, and as such, it’s worth taking a swing at. I was able to come up with a $36 ticket (for a 20-cent wager), one that includes two singles. Both singles will likely be popular ones, but if we can get some prices home around them, we could be in line for a nice score. Here’s how I’ll play the sequence.
RACE #6: 1,2,5,6,9
We open things up with a sprint for 2-year-old fillies. Go Astray figures to be favored, given back-to-back second-place finishes here last month. However, she had things all her own way last time out and hit a wall in the stretch. She could win, but I feel a need to spread in the kickoff leg.
I’m going five-deep, and there are two debutantes with pedigrees worth noting. Crazy for Sofia has been working well, and her dam is a half to six winners. Additionally, Iwannatalkaboutme is a big price on the morning line (15-1), but the presence of a 16% rider is a plus, and her second dam is a half to the speedy Birdonthewire.
RACE #7: 8,9
I’m taking a bit of a stand here, using just two horses in a turf race others may spread in. Golden Point is my top pick. He made a big middle move in a race with very little early speed last time out, and this spot figures to set up better for his late-running style. I’ll also use Vedelago, although he had a perfect trip last time out. That said, he’s shown in the past that he doesn’t need the lead to run well, and I think he could sit a good stalking trip just off the pace.
RACE #8: 1
My first single comes in the third leg, a maiden claiming event. I’ll take a stand with Dardo, who debuted in the slop earlier this month and had a horrible trip. He fell back abruptly midway through the race, but rallied to finish a strong second against a slightly higher level of competition. Improvement is logical at second asking, and while the rail draw isn’t ideal, I think he’s the most talented horse in a pretty weak bunch.
RACE #9: 1,5,6,7,8,12
I thought this was the toughest race of the sequence, and if you’ve got the budget to hit the “ALL” button, that’s not a bad idea. I narrowed it down to six horses, and I’m using a few big prices. Of note, B K Masterkey stretches out to two turns (which I think he wants judging by his 2016 races at Tampa), and Albert Charles drops way down in class and has won over this surface twice. That said, nothing would surprise me, and I’m hoping I can get through this leg. If we get a price home, that’s a plus.
RACE #10: 1,3,9
This $6,250 claimer has drawn some hard-knocking horses. I most prefer Capital City, who’s won two in a row at this level and route and should sit a perfect trip just off the speed. I’ll also use class-dropper Let’s Go Ben, who could go early from the rail, and Crazy Frank C, who ran second behind my top pick last out despite hopping at the start. That one has a win at this level and route back in January, and he’d benefit from a speed duel in front of him.
RACE #11: 3
If we’re still alive, we’re letting our ticket ride on Enterprising, who may be the shortest price on the card. He drops into restricted stakes company after chasing Grade 1 horses home on Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Before that, this 6-year-old won back-to-back graded stakes races at Fair Grounds, and a repeat of either of those efforts would make him very, very difficult to beat.
Here’s another look at my $36 ticket. If you’re playing the sequence, best of luck!
R6: 1,2,5,6,9
R7: 8,9
R8: 1
R9: 1,5,6,7,8,12
R10: 1,3,9
R11: 3
180 bets, $36