February, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Park: Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed At $800,000 Sunday

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $800,000 Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the 14th racing day following a mandatory payout.

A strong Rainbow 6 sequence Sunday will span Races 5-10, featuring a pair of $84,000 maiden special weight races on turf, an $87,000 optional claiming allowance on the main track and an $86,000 optional claiming allowance on turf.

A five-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds on turf will kick off the sequence in Race 5. Ralph Nicks-trained Al Atlasi, who recovered from gate trouble to miss graduation by just a half-length; and Herman Wilensky-trained Harry's Onthefly, who has started his career with back-to-back runner-up finishes, are expected to vie for favoritism in a race that includes first-time starters by No Nay Never, Munnings, Speightster, Arrogate and More Than Ready.

In Race 7, a 1/16-mile maiden special weight test for 3-year-old fillies on turf, Bill Mott-trained Doral, who missed winning his debut by just a neck after encountering trouble at the start and being forced seven-wide on the turn into the stretch, is rated as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Todd Pletcher-trained Bomba Nera, who twice encountered bumping before faltering to fourth in the same race, is rated at 3-1.

A 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for older fillies and mares on the main track followed in Race 8. Shug McGaughey-trained Radio Days, a multiple graded stakes-placed daughter of Gun Runner looms as a popular 'single' as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six.

Barry Croft-trained Hope In Him, who has been a dominant winner in his last four starts, all on Tapeta, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Race 9 feature, a five-furlong turf dash for older horses.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

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Another Derby Prep Win For Cox As Angel Of Empire Upsets Risen Star

Already deep in Triple Crown prospects, Brad Cox snared another Kentucky Derby qualifying prep race on Saturday when Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire split horses in mid-stretch under Luis Saez and went on to win Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

One of three runners for Cox in the Risen Star's field of 14 3-year-olds, Angel of Empire – a Pennsylvania-bred colt from the second crop of the Pioneerof the Nile stallion Classic Empire – was sent off at odds of 13-1 and paid $29.40 to win after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.47.

Sun Thunder, a 16-1 longshot for Kenny McPeek, finished one length behind the winner in second, with Larry Rivelli-trained Two Phil's 1 3/4 lengths farther back in third after battling with the runner-up for the lead for much of the stretch run. Cox-trained Tapit's Conquest finished fourth, with Keith Desormeaux-trained Single Ruler fifth. Cox's third entry, 9-5 favorite Victory Formation, winner of the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Jan. 1, was prominent early but faded late to be ninth.

Angel of Empire moved to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 54 points after earning 50 qualifying points for the Risen Star win. The second through fifth finishers earned 20-15-10-5 points respectively. Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Previous Triple Crown prep races won by Cox include the G3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds with Instant Coffee, the G3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct with Hit Show, and the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds with Jace's Road. Other promising 3-year-olds in the Cox barn are Verifying, Giant Mischief, and Eyeing Clover.

“He's been working very well at Oaklawn and we knew he'd love the distance,” Cox said of Angel of Empire. “He's a mile and an eight, mile and a quarter horse.”

Earlier in the day, Cox recorded his 2,000th career victory with 3-year-old maiden winner Bishops Bay, one of four winners he saddled on the 13-race Fair Grounds card. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer said the G2 Louisiana Derby, G1 Arkansas Derby, and G1 Blue Grass Stakes would be under consideration for Angel of Empire. “We'll let the dust settle,” he said. “See how he comes out of it and go from there.”

Determinedly and Reylu Gutierrez seized the early advantage in the Risen Star, going the opening quarter mile in :23.34 and the half in :47.50. Harlocap and John Velazquez, second early, gained a narrow advantage going into the far turn, passing six furlongs in 1:12.21, but they were quickly taken on by Two Phil's and Jareth Loveberry, Sun Thunder and Brian Hernandez Jr. raced in 12th early and moved into contention rounding the final turn while looking for racing room. When he found a seam, Hernandez drove Sun Thunder to a narrow advantage over Two Phil's with an eighth of a mile to run, the first mile clocked in 1:38.52.

Angel of Empire settled into a ground-saving position early while racing ninth. Saez moved him into closer contact with the leaders entering the far turn, rallied five wide into the stretch and had the most momentum after reaching the furlong grounds.

The winner, an April 9 foal, was bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc. and Black Diamond Equine Corp. Produced from Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve, Angel of Empire was purchased by Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stable for $70,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The win was the third in five lifetime starts for Angel of Empire.He finished second behind stablemate Victory Formation in his previous start, the Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 1 at Oaklawn.

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Pretty Mischievous Springs Rachel Alexandra Win As Hoosier Philly Fails To Fire

While favorite Hoosier Philly toiled to no avail down the long Fair Grounds stretch, Godolphin homebred Pretty Mischievous took charge from pacesetter Miracle in the final furlong and edged ahead late to capture the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) Saturday.

The daughter of Spendthrift Farm's leading sire Into Mischief. Pretty Mischievous and Miracle separated themselves from four overmatched rivals through the lane and then battled to the finish line. Pretty Mischievous prevailed by three-quarters of length.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Pretty Mischievous tracked from third, then second, early as Miracle laid down pedestrian fractions of :25.02 and :48.85 through the first half mile. Angling to the three path Pretty Mischievous to the three path around the turn, she fought nearly every step through the lane to secure the narrow victory.

Pretty Mischievous finished the 1 1/16-mile trip in 1:45.15 on a fast track and returned $18.20 for the win.

Previously unbeaten Hoosier Philly, making her highly anticipated season debut, finished third as the 2-5 favorite, 7 3/4 lengths behind Miracle. She bobbled at the start, raced in last place down the backstretch under Edgar Morales, then angled six wide for the stretch run but could not keep pace with the top two.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous earned her first graded win and second consecutive stakes win: She came into the Rachel Alexandra off a victory in the Untapable on Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. Her record improves to 4-0-1 from five career starts and earnings of $421,310.

The race is a qualifier for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs with the top five finishers awarded points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.

Kentucky-bred Pretty Mischievous was produced by Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Pretty Mischievous, (winner): “Before she ran Brendan told me we had a really special one in the barn. She keeps improving physically and mentally. Today, I sat in a perfect spot and let Johnny (Velazquez) go on Miracle while Luis (Saez and Vahva) tracked inside.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer, Pretty Mischievous (winner): “She never missed a beat from her first start at 2 until now. We knew we'd have to give her a rest at some point because we didn't want to go to the well too often. We were quietly confident she'd be good enough and today we found out she is. Now, we'll see how she comes out of things, talk things over with the ownership team, and get her to be 110% on the big day in May.”

John Velazquez, jockey, Miracle (runner-up): “She was in the perfect spot today. It was the first time going two real turns and she handled things well.”

Edgar Morales, jockey, Hoosier Philly (third): “I think the stumble at the start cost a lot. I had nowhere to go when they were going so slow. Every horse is going to finish going :25. It's part of the game. It is what it is. It was her first race back and she was faced was a lot of adversity. She's always in the bridle, but I had to take a hold of her because everyone was going so slow. “

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Classy Edition Turns Tables On Kathleen O. In Royal Delta

Robert and Lawana Low's Classy Edition, second to Kathleen O. in last year's Davona Dale (G2), turned the tables on the 4-5 favorite in Saturday's $150,000 Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The Royal Delta, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares, is named in honor of the Hall of Fame three-time Eclipse Award champion who captured six Grade 1 stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott during a career spanning 2010-2013.

Classy Edition, the even-money second choice ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., obtained a tactical advantage over the Shug McGaughey-trained 4-5 favorite while stalking early pacesetter Jungle Juice during dawdling fractions of :25.28 and :50.15 for the first half mile.

“I was pretty pleased,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We got to a good spot and it looked like Irad had a lot of horse, just waiting to pull the trigger.”

Kathleen O., who won three stakes last season at Gulfstream, got away a bit slowly from the starting gate and raced sixth of seven horses along the backstretch. As Classy Edition moved seemingly effortlessly to the pacesetter on the far turn, Javier Castellano had gotten Kathleen O.'s run underway. The favorite passed horses with a wide sweep to enter contention on the turn into the homestretch, but Classy Edition was able to kick clear on fresh legs and continued on to register a comfortable 1¾-length victory.

“She was going good on the backside. We were going slow but she was close to the lead,” Ortiz said. “I let her do her thing and she did the rest.”

Classy Edition ($4.20) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.15 to register her fifth victory in seven career starts. Kathleen O. finished second, four lengths clear of Don't Get Khozy.

Classy Edition made an impressive return from a nine-month layoff to win a mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Jan. 11 by 5 ¼ lengths.

“We really thought highly of her. She showed quality. She ran a good second in the race here and then needed some time off,” Pletcher said. “She came back really well. I thought her comeback race was excellent. We kind of had a little tactical edge today and she was able to get it done.”

Kathleen O., who had finished a close second in the Nov. 25 Comely (G3) at Aqueduct, had outfinished Classy Edition to win last year's seven-furlong Davona Dale by two lengths but was unable to make a serious run in the stretch Saturday.

“She ran really well. Unfortunately, it was a slow pace — :25, :50.,” Kathleen O.'s jockey Javier Castellano said. “For a come-from-behind horse it was too much to ask.”

New York-bred Classy Edition is from the first crop of Ashford Stud stallion Classic Empire, who had another graded stakes winner later Saturday at Fair Grounds when 3-year-old colt Angel of Empire captured the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Bred by Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman, Classy Edition was produced by the Bernardini mare Newbie. Offered by Sequel Bloodstock at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern 2-year-olds in training sale, she sold to the Lows for $550,000.

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