Rainbow 6 offers mandatory payout

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Here we go again!

Less than three weeks after a forceout of the Rainbow 6 pool resulted in a payout of $20,158 for a 20-cent ticket on April 19, Gulfstream Park will give fans another opportunity to go for the big money by offering a mandatory payout of the pool here Saturday.

Barring anyone holding a unique winning ticket in the Rainbow 6 either Thursday or Friday, a carryover of nearly $1.5 million is likely to be on the table, with a final pool that could climb to $7 million to $9 million by the time the last dollar is wagered.

As usual the sequence is not an easy one and could require a fairly substantial bankroll to solve. It covers races 7-12 and consists of three dirt races and three on the grass, including the $75,000 Sunshine Forever Stakes, with a full field led by 2019 Preakness winner War of Will and 2019 Woodbine Mile winner El Tormenta.

A closer look at the six races follows.

Race 7

There are 10 in the opening leg, an allowance at five furlongs on turf for 3-year-old fillies. And as to be expected, there is plenty of early speed signed on. An honest pace could enhance the chances of capable late runners such as ENVIED and COMPENSATE, each coming off a solid effort in her most recent start. The two quickest members of the lineup are the idled FAST SCENE and stakes-placed FOOLISH HUMOR, who was done in chasing the even-money winner Hear My Prayer in the Melody of Colors in her local bow.

Race 8

This $16,000 claiming race is at six furlongs on the dirt and features several key contenders who seem to be at their best when on or near the lead. RESERVENOTATTAINED won his maiden on the front end at 2, but proved capable of passing horses in his start before that. He exits a much-needed turf try off a long layoff as well as a very sharp work 11 days later. WAR ACT rallied mildly under similar conditions last time and had some trouble on the turn along the way. Seems to be holding his form. LOUIE’S KINGDOM was claimed back by Larry Rivelli earlier this winter and now drops well below that price. Rivelli excels with horses off this kind of layoff, although this one figures part of early mix

with CAT GONE QUICK and perhaps the re-blinkered ROAD TO PEACE.

Race 9

Obviously WAR OF WILL is the biggest question mark in the Sunshine Forever, returning after a six-month hiatus for a rare appearance on turf. The outside draw in this 1 1/16-mile race adds to the questions, although his recent work tab has been brilliant. He is a must-use but far from a single. EL TORMENTA also has some questions to answer off a dull showing in the Appleton after being keyed up early from the outside post that day. He became a Grade 1 winner defeating Got Stormy in the Woodbine Mile, and demands respect on that fact alone. For those looking for value and willing to spread, AQUAPHOBIA could be worth a look coming out of a decent try in the very fast Muniz Memorial at the Fair Grounds and with Irad Ortiz taking the call for trainer Mike Maker. The Todd Pletcher pair of HALLADAY and SOCIAL PARANOIA each is coming off a huge effort, but both benefited from a perfect trip and must prove they can repeat the effort in this arguably tougher spot.

Race 10

Again the pace in this one-mile turf race seems honest enough to look for closers, beginning with HARBOUR MASTER, who is a big question mark on the drop off a layoff to this first-level allowance. He is capable of running this group down at his best, and has done just enough in the morning to suggest he might. BATTLE OF BLENHEIM is a must use off a series of strong showings, including a game effort last time when hard-used on the lead before getting run down late by longshot Conviction Trade. For those looking to go deeper searching for a price, BASHA perhaps is worth tossing in. He lost his best chance when hesitating at the break and hauled back to rear of pack last time.

Race 11

Sticking with the theme of this sequence, speed and more speed signed on among this full field of 12 statebred 3-year-olds going six furlongs. The pace setup in this firstlevel allowance could favor R MERCEDES BOY, who rallied but proved no match for the undefeated and perhaps stakes-bound Cajun Brother last time. He held a daylight advantage over rest of field, and looks to be sitting on a winning effort against the same

kind. TAP IT TO WIN beat a solid bunch winning his maiden at second asking last summer at Saratoga, but was overmatched in two subsequent tries. He returns off a series of promising works while turning back to what may just prove his most effective distance. Must avoid getting caught up in all the speed, including two other key contenders, I’LL FIGHT DEMPSEY and HAUNTEDBYTHEMUSIC.

Race 12

Anyone fortunate enough to still be alive for this one-mile starter allowance-$10,000 claimer could need a big spread to assure taking down the brass ring. One would certainly want to have both PEPPI THE HUNTER and TRAPPEZOID on the ticket. Peppi the Hunter comes off a big effort when dropped in for an $8,000 tag by Saffie Joseph Jr. He must prove he can repeat the performance stepping up in company for new hands off the claim. Trappezoid finished third as the favorite versus same kind last time but is very effective at a one-turn mile. Question marks surround the idled Parx invader THE ROBERT and STARSHIP APOLLO, who is stretching out to one mile off a series of shorter races.