With a carryover approaching $5 million, there is a possibility that Gulfstream Park’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 could swell to approximately $15 million Saturday afternoon.
If there is no single, unique-winning ticket Friday afternoon, bettors around the world will be taking a shot at bringing down the pool during Saturday’s mandatory payout. The question is how? What’s the plan? What’s the best way to spread in the sequence that runs from Races 7-12?
“Betting the Rainbow 6 is all about strategy,” said Gulfstream’s racing analyst and co-host Gabby Gaudet. “Do you find a single and work your way outward? In which races do you spread and/or go a little deep? What's your budget? I personally did not find a single but do go pretty skinny in Race 9.
Race analyst and co-host Ron Nicoletti said; “I try to single out the most formful races and work from there outward. I’m always looking to find a race I can single a horse. That gives me the ability to go deeper in races that have more than a few horses that have the potential to win. Of course money management, the amount of cash you invest, is a huge piece of the puzzle when playing the Rainbow 6.”
Neither Nicoletti nor Gaudet can find a single on Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence. “But we’re going to try and get as far as we can on less than $200,” Gaudet said. “So here’s our tickets, step by step, and good luck.”
Gaudet’s Rainbow 6 Ticket for Saturday
Race 7: Horner Man had a bit of trouble at the 5/16ths-pole last out. Was it a tremendous amount of trouble? No. But he does seem like a plodder-type that takes a while to get going and horses like that have a tougher time recovering during the stretch. I prefer him most. We must respect Sir Dudley Digges, who's been facing better for the level and Mighty Mo off the layoff, and out of a key race at Saratoga.
Race 8: This is probably the toughest leg of the sequence. Partly because you can enter a 12-horse, 5-furlong sprint with an idea of what will happen, and that vision very rarely comes to fruition. I'll use four and maintain the glass-half-full approach. Deer Dog could've (should've) won his turf debut. He was reserved on the inside throughout the stretch but still game. The abundance of pace in here can also only help his cause. Texas Rustler has been compromised by trouble in the past several starts. Because of the low-profile connections, we'll probably get a great price. Both Great Attack and Noble Prince make sense on class purposes alone.
Race 9: Here's where the waters get a little shallow. Upperton and Mr Coupons are going to have to cut it for me. Kelly Breen is 43% (6-14) with maiden claimers making their second start on the dirt, and this runner meets easier. Mr Coupons was the beaten favorite last out behind a Zito Class dropper. Fingers crossed.
Race 10: I'm on the fence about Parmel Landing. He's definitely experienced legitimate trouble in his last four starts, but does the trouble find him or does he find the trouble? He's a must-use for me because I've liked him for so long and would kick myself if he won on a mandatory payout day. Will protect myself with the speedy McFly on the rail, El Ciclon who ran a winning race last out and Favorite Heir for a barn that's been hot with their turf claims so far this meet.
Race 11: Harmonize and Lira look like the two runners in here. Harmonize clearly has a lot of talent but hasn't been seen since the Breeders' Cup and Lira had to chase Catch A Glimpse last out in the Herecomesthebride on a turf very kind to speed. Lira also seems like one who likes to be covered up, and more pace and a bigger field today may be more conducive. I'll try to beat the two "go-figure" horses by adding Sky My Sky. That was a fast race last out and she looks like one with potential and the ability to win on the lead or stalking the pace.
Race 12: What better way to cap off the Rainbow 6 than with a wide-open turf maiden claiming race? English Mahaveer has one of the more solid charts to analyze. He had trouble closing into a slower pace last out and drops slightly in class. The "trip" horse is Appa. Last out had a wide post, was herded about 5-6 wide in the first turn, and wide throughout. The only problem is he will once again break from post 11 at a mile. Last but not least, Running Hoplite is bred to like the lawn. Clement has had some tough beats with his turf maidens at the meet - is he finally due?
Ticket:
R7: 7-8-10
R8: 1-2-3-12
R9: 2-11
R10: 1-3-6-8
R11: 4-5-6
R12: 3-5-11
$172.80
Nicoletti’s Rainbow 6 Ticket for Saturday
Race 7: Sir Dudley Digges is turning back to 7 ½ furlongs after dueling for the lead and getting beat a neck going a mile. This is a major horse on my ticket, and was thinking of singling him, but decided to add Fast Latina and Horner Man to avoid being knocked out in the first leg.
Race 8: Lots of different ways to go in the race, but decided to go three deep in the second leg. Great Attack was given some time off after a couple of game outings at this level and distance. Red Fever responded in his return to the turf by leading every step of the way to defeat similar by 3-plus lengths. And rounding it out with Nobel Prince, who returns to a level where he won on Feb 10th.
Race 9: I’m going three deep again in this leg, even though a lot of players might be thinking of singling Prime Time Tommy. The colt is cutting back to 7 furlongs after dueling for the lead throughout and finishing second going a mile, despite the fact he had to steady near the wire. I’m hedging my ticket by using Mr Coupons and Go Salvatore Go.
Race 10: This is another wide-open turf event that I was forced to go three deep again. Decisionsdecisions is stretching out to a mile after a solid turf debut in which he finished fourth behind stakes quality competition. Parmel Landing is cutting back to a mile after encountering trouble at the 1/8th- pole vs. $50,000 optional claimers. I’m also adding El Ciclon to the ticket because he was game in defeat when he rebounded from a troubled start to come within a half-length of springing a 33-1 upset.
Race 11: I’m going two deep in the Sanibel Island. Lira is turning back to a distance where she’s 3 for 3 after tracking the pace and finishing 2nd in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride. Harmonize is making her first start since her 3-race win streak, which includes victories in the PG Johnson and Jessamine, ended when she finished 7th to Catch a Glimpse in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Race 12: I’m using four horses in the finale. 3 English Mahaveer is dropping to the $25,000 level after facing tougher. Running Hoplite is a son of Broken Vow debuting for trainer Christophe Clement. Sir Magu drops after encountering trouble both early and late vs $35,000 maidens. And finally Appa, trained by Jane Cibelli, who has done positive work with turf maidens making their second start.
Ticket:
R7: 4-7-8
R8: 2-3-6
R9: 1-11-13
R10: 3-6-11
R11: 4-6
R12: 3-5-7-11
$129.60
Source: Gulfstream Park
