Horseplayers who specialize in turf racing might have an edge in the Rainbow 6 jackpot sequence that has a mandatory payout Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The estimated pool for the 20-cent bet is $1.25 million.
Sunday’s sequence covers races 5-10 and half of the offerings will be run on the turf. They are the three richest races in the sequence – the sixth, eighth, and 10th.
Spy Hunter and Bluff appear to be chief contenders in the sixth, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 7 1/2 furlongs. It carries a claiming option of $20,000.
Both horses are returning to the Florida-bred ranks. The last time Spy Hunter faced such company he won. Spy Hunter figures to be tough with a repeat of his effort two back, when he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82 for winning a $35,000 claiming route over the turf.
Bluff will be facing older rivals for the first time, but the 3-year-old is getting back to the overnight ranks off a stakes start and the last time he faced such foes he won a first-level allowance against open company at Tampa Bay Downs.
Spy Hunter and Bluff both could get tracking trips behind Boy o’ Boy, who set a quick pace and prevailed last out in a maiden race at a mile on turf at Tampa.
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Adversary also could be prominent as he is stretching out around two turns for the first time. He will be first turf for his two-turn-winning stallion Girvin, who is getting about 7 percent winners on the grass. Adversary’s dam is by Soldat, who won the Grade 3 With Anticipation at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga and went on to run second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The eighth race is a $35,000 starter allowance for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. The chief contenders appear to be Bellavinino, No Other Like You, and We Sea You. The race carries a claiming option of $50,000.
Bellavinino and We Sea You are back in the overnight ranks after facing stakes foes. No Other Like You is back with straight 3-year-olds after facing older rivals. The trio could fall in line behind Maddy R, a sprint-to-route prospect who figures to show the way after setting the pace over five furlongs on turf. She’s a fresh horse, too, as this marks her first out since April.
Quereme Pass could control the pace in the 10th race, a $35,000 claiming route for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on turf. In the late stages he might have to hold off Irideo, an earner of nearly $500,000 who is making his first start since December.
First post Sunday is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
Turf players have another race of interest on the card in race 2, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs that drew a field of 10.
Haulin Ice to Saratoga
Haulin Ice, who won her fourth straight stakes in last weekend’s Musical Romance at Gulfstream, is bound for Saratoga, according to her trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr.
Haulin Ice was a 3 1/2-length winner of the Musical Romance and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
“She won nicely last Sunday and now she’ll go to the Honorable Miss at Saratoga next month,” Joseph said. “Ever since she won the race at Aqueduct, the Vagrancy, that was always the plan, just to bring her home and try to win this stakes as a [bridge], then go to that race, a Grade 2 at Saratoga.”
Haulin Ice won her first graded race in the Vagrancy, a Grade 3 held May 4. Before that, she won the Downthedustyroad and Matron Stakes, both at Oaklawn Park in her home state of Arkansas.
Haulin Ice has been closing in on the all-time earnings record for Arkansas-breds. Her target is leader Nodouble, a foal of 1965, who during his racing career earned $846,749, according to figures provided by the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association. Haulin Ice is sitting at $828,900.
“She’s close to breaking that,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, she’ll become the first millionaire Arkansas-bred horse.”
Haulin Ice won the first stakes of her career in 2024 at Gulfstream. She is a 4-year-old by Coal Front and was bred by Eugenia Thompson-Benight. Haulin Ice races for C2 Racing Stable, Paul Braverman, Miller Racing, and Timothy Pinch.
The $200,000 Honorable Miss is a six-furlong race on July 20.
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