Due to a winter storm affecting the Mid-Atlantic region, Saturday's Winter Sprintfest program at Laurel Park featuring the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) and $250,000 General George (G3) has been postponed to Saturday, Feb. 20.
With a winter storm advisory issued through 7 a.m. Sunday and the area receiving a mix of freezing rain, ice and snow, Maryland Jockey Club officials chose to transfer the entire nine-race program out of safety for the horses and horsemen.
The MJC's off-track betting sites will remain open for simulcasting.
In addition to the Barbara Fritchie and General George for older sprinters, the Winter Sprintfest program includes the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-year-olds and up and $100,000 Nellie Morse for older females at about 1 1/16 miles.
There is a nine-race card scheduled for Sunday and a special nine-race Presidents Day holiday program on tap Monday, Feb. 15.
A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is scheduled for Saturday's 12-race program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., that will also feature the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) and the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3).
The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 13th straight racing day Friday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $1,711.24.
At the start of Rainbow 6 wagering on Saturday there will be a carryover jackpot pool of $1,048,970.38. There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover to begin the day of $4,650.73.
The jackpot pool is usually only 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. However, on mandatory payout days the whole pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors holding tickets with the most winners in the six-race sequence.
Courtney, Nicoletti Talk Rainbow 6
The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 7-12, kicked off by a mile maiden special weight race on turf that drew a full field of 3-year-olds, including Todd Pletcher-trained Golden Whim, a debuting son of Medaglia d'Oro who was a $1.5 million yearling purchase. Well-bred colts trained by Chad Brown, Christophe Clement, Rusty Arnold and Kent Sweezey will also be making their respective debuts in a most challenging Race 7.
Pletcher-trained Black Magic Woman, a dominating 3 ¾-length maiden winner last time out, makes her return in Race 8, a mile optional claiming allowance for older fillies and mares. Dale Romans-trained Funnybet, who finished his 2020 campaign with three straight victories at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, is slated to make her 2021 debut.
Race 9, a mile turf race with a full field of $10,000 claimers, could well be a 'spread' race for many Rainbow 6 bettors.
Chad Brown-trained Structor figures to be tested by a group of battle-tested rivals in Race 10, a mile turf race for older horses. The 4-year-old son of Palace Malice has been idle since winning his third straight race in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.
Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex will be a popular “single” in Race 11, the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3), a six-furlong dash for 4-year-olds and up. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief is coming off an eye-catching optional claiming allowance win off a five-month layoff.
The Rainbow 6 sequence will be closed out with a mile maiden special weight race on turf for 3-year-old maidens in Race 12. Bill Mott-trained Floriform, a son of Into Mischief who was beaten by just a half-length in his 2021 debut, figures to garner a lot of support from Rainbow 6 bettors in a race that includes several well-connected first-time starters.
The Rainbow 6 will be preceded by the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3) in Race 6. Rusty Arnold-trained Leinster is slated to make his first start since finishing a close third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1`) at Keeneland. The 6-year-old son of Majestic Warrior had won the Shakertown (G2) and Woodford (G2) in his two prior starts.
WHO'S HOT: Jose Ortiz rode three winners Friday afternoon. He won aboard Odramark ($5.80) in the first race, Sambacer ($5.80) in the fifth and Romp ($7) in the 10th and closing race.
Even with only one winner returning more than $5.40, the 354 winning tickets on Friday's Stronach 5 were each worth $511.70.
The popular Stronach 5 featured races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as well as an industry-low 12-percent takeout.
The Stronach 5 began with Prince James winning Laurel's eighth race, the opening leg of the sequence, and returning $5.40. Hyperfocus won Gulfstream's seventh race, the second leg, and returned $10.20, while Laurel's ninth race, the third leg of the sequence, was won by favored Company Clown ($3.80).
The Stronach 5 headed west for Santa Anita's third race, the fourth leg of the sequence, and even-money favorite Disko Fever ($4.20) running away from her competition. The Stronach 5 wrapped up with Golden Gate's second race and the 6-5 favorite Wildly Dramatic ($4.40) winning easily.
Friday's races and sequence
Leg One – Laurel Park 8th Race: Prince James $5.40
Leg Two – Gulfstream Park 7th Race: Hyperfocus $10.20
Leg Three – Laurel Park 9th Race: Company Clown $3.80
Leg Four – Santa Anita Park 3rd Race: Disko Fever $4.20
Leg Five – Golden Gate Fields 2nd Race: Wildly Dramatic $4.40
Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.
The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors
The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.
If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.
The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.
Due to the frigid temperatures and out of concern for the safety of its equine athletes and jockeys, Oaklawn has received permission to cancel Friday's nine-race card.
Oaklawn had already canceled the Saturday – Monday cards based on the weather forecast and rescheduled three graded stakes – the $250,000 Bayakoa (G3), $600,000 Razorback (G3) and $750,000 Southwest (G3) – to Saturday, Feb. 20.
Oaklawn will remain open for casino gaming and simulcast racing. The casino will remain open until 5 a.m.
Live racing is scheduled to resume Thursday, Feb. 18 with a 1 p.m. first post.
