RAINBOW 6

KING HANDICAPS SEQUENCE WITH POSSIBLE $10 MILLION MANDATORY PAYOUT,

Unless the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park is hit Thursday or Friday, the wager will have a mandatory disbursement on Saturday, attracting action from horseplayers across the country, including many who don’t regularly play it under the typical rules, which require a player to have the lone winning ticket to get the jackpot. The carryover into Thursday’s card was a hefty $1.34 million. The final pool could reach $10 million.

The six-race sequence, as always, presents a challenge. At least to these eyes, there are no obvious singles, but no waving the white flag here. Below are my thoughts on the races and how I rank the contenders in DRF’s TicketMaker, either as primary “A” selections or secondary “B” runners.

Race 7: A maiden claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, this race has 14 in the body of the field, plus a couple of also-eligibles bettors are advised to consider if they draw in. Provided they do not, the only “A” horse on my ticket is the speedy Valid Exchange (4), who is cut in half from maiden-$25,000 to maiden$12,500 company and could get brave if able to spurt clear.

Holding appeal as “B” runners are Oh Danny Bear (2), a distant third in a longer maiden $12,500 claimer Jan. 12 and now in the third start of his form cycle, and 12-1 shot My Interest (6), a first-timer who has picked up his morning workout pace in recent weeks at Palm Meadows.

Race 8: Reagan’s Odyssey (2) and Dynatown (9), both coming off runner-up finishes against similar company, are the “A” runners of this optional claimer at a mile on turf for Florida-breds. If one holds an edge, it could be Reagan’s Odyssey, who is more experienced racing two turns. Dynatown faded in only one prior route, though that was earlier in her career and when racing on synthetic, not turf.

Hera (5) is a “B.” Although seventh in her latest, her poor finish was at least partially related to trip. She grew rank when rated in sixth and then raced wide.

Race 9: Clause (4), a Juddmonte homebred debuting for trainer Chad Brown, seems talented based on the times from her works at Payson Park, where she has clocked halfmiles in 49 seconds and change on five occasions over the tiring dirt track there, and in 47.80 seconds one time on turf, the surface of this race. She is the top selection and an “A.”

Can’t Buy Me Love (9) also looks like a talented runner after rallying to be second with a wide trip in her debut Jan. 12. She boasts a striking pedigree, being by War Front and out of Together, a mare who won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in 2011. She, too, ranks as an “A.”

On the Town (3), who is a “B,” is a More Than Ready filly who after a couple of seconds to begin her career in New York finished fourth in her first race over the local course Jan. 2.

Race 10: In addition to being a leg in the Rainbow 6, this race features some talented 3-yearolds from South Florida who could venture into stakes later this winter and spring.

I see two “A” horses: Standard Deviation (5) and Global Campaign (3). Of the two, I somewhat prefer Standard Deviation over debut winner Global Campaign due to having an experience edge.

Beyond these two, He’s Smokin Hot (2) also merits use as a “B.” He is flying high after winning two straight, including a starter race by 7 3/4 lengths, and might be somewhat overlooked by the betting public. He is 10-1 on the morning line.

Race 11: Hembree (8), who drops from stakes, and Mr Cub (5), second on Dec. 22 to eventual Pegasus Turf winner Bricks and Mortar, appear to be the most logical winners of the El Prado and are “A” runners. Still, they are not without fault. Hembree acts at his best in long one-turn turf sprints, an option not available to him at Gulfstream, and Mr Cub had been off his game over the second half of 2018 prior to his latest.

So, I’ll try a couple of “B” runners: Krampus (9) and Siem Riep (6), both of whom have the potential to surprise if the top two deliver performances a little short of their best.

Race 12: Another grass race follows for the nightcap, where I will try three “A” horses: Silver Kitten (12), an improved third on Dec. 30 at Gulfstream; first-timer Cafe Americano (1), a filly who fetched $625,000 at auction a year and a half ago; and Lady Worthington (11), a daughter of Scat Daddy who ran well on debut to be third before finishing sixth second out.

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON