Maryland Jockey Club | Horse Racing Free Tips

Naomi Tukker Handicaps Friday’s Rainbow 6 At Pimlico

Historic Pimlico Race Course launches its July schedule Friday with an Independence Day holiday weekend of live racing featuring four stakes worth $375,000 in purses and a Maryland state record carryover jackpot of $1,351,928.63 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6.

The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 25th consecutive racing day following the last live action June 27. The popular multi-race wager was last hit for a $23,346.70 payout May 7.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 is scheduled for Sunday's Independence Day card that includes the $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Lite the Fuse for 3-year-olds and up, both sprinting six furlongs; $100,000 Caesar's Wish for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles and $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired females 3 and older scheduled for five furlongs on the grass.

The Lite the Fuse and Caesar's Wish are both part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series.

In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico's spring meet, the Rainbow 6 has far surpassed its previous state record carryover of $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.

Friday's Rainbow 6 begins in Race 3, a five-furlong claiming sprint for 2-year-old filly maidens that attracted a field of nine led by second-time starter R B's Star from the barn of meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez. R B's Star was second, beaten a half-length, in a June 21 maiden special weight at Delaware Park in debut.

Maryland Jockey Club host and analyst Naomi Tukker's price play comes in Race 4, one of two horses in the Rainbow 6 sequence scheduled for the grass, a one-mile claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Cark will break from Post 6 against 11 rivals after running fourth by 2 ½ lengths behind next-out winner Mr. Tito's in a June 5 claimer at Gulfstream Park for trainer Sarah Nagle.

“He did not get a trip at all,” Tukker said. “Multiple times he had to get to checked because of traffic issues, but in the latter stages he still showed a rally that makes me think if he uses that turn of foot he might just get the win.”

Claimers 3 and up will travel 1 1/16 miles in Race 5 with Miami Mumbles favored at 9-5 on the morning line. Trained by Horacio DePaz, the 5-year-old Hard Spun mare closed to be fifth but was elevated to fourth following the disqualification of Wicked Prankster for interference May 13 at Pimlico. The winner of that race, Johng, came back to win June 18.

Race 6 is a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races, or 3-year-olds. Cooke Brothers breaks from Post 3 having run second in four of his last five races including three in a row, beaten a total of five lengths in those starts. The most recent came in the slop May 29 at Pimlico under jockey Grant Whitacre, who rides back for trainer Mario Serey Jr.

Tukker's must-use horse comes in Sunday's featured Race 7, a second-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up at six furlongs. Rather Nosy will be making her first start for trainer Jane Cibelli after being campaigned on the West Coast, exiting back-to-back wins going seven furlongs at Santa Anita March 12 and May 8.

“The Cibelli stable is very strong when sending horses out for the first time after a trainer change,” Tukker said. “[Last time] she won on the lead, on the rail, with a fair few runners pressuring her early, but that didn't seem to deter her at all. She was very relaxed and still showed a great kick in the latter stages.”

The sequence closes with the Race 8 finale, a one-mile claimer for 3-year-olds scheduled for one mile on the turf. An overflow field of 15 was entered including Leave 'Em Loaded, third May 28 at Pimlico in his second start off a layoff, and Jestful, shortening up after being beaten a neck when second in an off-the-turf maiden claimer at Pimlico June 12.

Post time Friday is 12:40 p.m.

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Pimlico: Racing Returns Friday With $1.25 Million Carryover In Rainbow 6

Live racing returns to historic Pimlico Race Course Friday to kick off the final weekend of June with another opportunity to take down a Maryland state record carryover jackpot in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 that has swelled to $1,253,882.76.

Post time for the first of eight races Friday is 12:40 p.m.

The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 22nd consecutive racing day during the last live action on the June 20 Father's Day program, when another $150,942 was bet into the popular multi-race wager on top of a $1,205,592.51 carryover.

Sunday saw five favorites win in the six-race sequence, producing multiple winning tickets of $106.82.

Last solved for a $23,346.70 payout May 7, the Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Friday's Rainbow 6 covers Races 3-8 and opens with a five-furlong claiming sprint on turf for maiden fillies and mares age 3, 4 and 5 (1:37 p.m.). Appropriately, Likely Choice is favored at 9-5 on the morning line for trainer Kelly Rubley, having run second in her turf debut over the course and distance May 22. Bourbon Wildcat, yet to race on grass, was beaten a nose in a six-furlong maiden claimer last December in her most recent start.

Race 4 (2:09 p.m.) is a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for fillies and mares 3 and up which have never won three races, or 3-year-old fillies. Long Point Beach is the 9-5 program favorite, returning to the main track after finishing off the board in a one-mile grass claimer May 23 at Pimlico racing first time off the claim for trainer Hugh McMahon. Jeanie's Angel has been favored in both her starts this year after relocating from South Florida, winning her season debut May 23 and running second by a half-length June 13, both six furlongs.

An overflow field of 15 3-year-olds and up was entered in Race 5 (2:40 p.m.), a starter-optional claimer scheduled for one mile on the grass. Among the group are Tusk, winner of the 2020 Tropical Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park exiting on off-the-grass win May 30 at Pimlico; Beltway Bob, racing first time since capturing the Maryland Million Turf Starter Handicap last October at Laurel Park; King Bubble, first off the claim for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez, who connects at 28 percent with those runners; and Mokheef, a last-out eighth in the June 13 Prince George's County.

The feature comes in Race 6 (3:12 p.m.), a second-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles that drew 10 horses including the quartet of Coal Truth, Clubman, Forest Fire and V.I.P. Ticket, all stakes winners who have combined for 33 victories and nearly $1.3 million in purse earnings from 134 career starts. Hanalei's Houdini drops out of a popular win first off the claim for owner-trainer Kieron Magee May 31 at Pimlico.

Race 7 (3:45 p.m.) is a scheduled 1 1/16-mile turf allowance for 3-year-olds and up where Dig Charlie Dig is narrowly favored at 5-2 on the morning line over Dream Big Dreams. Dig Charlie Dig, trained by Jamie Ness, is winless in six starts this year, four of them seconds including each of his last three. Dream Big Dreams broke his maiden for trainer Brittany Russell in a May 14 maiden special weight at Laurel and most recently was beaten a half-length when second facing older horses for the first time in a restricted allowance May 29 at Pimlico.

Maryland Jockey Club host and analyst Naomi Tukker has her price play in Race 7, Benny Havens (6-1), making his second start off an eight-month layoff after finishing a troubled seventh June 19 at Pimlico.

“He was taking on some high-quality sprinters in that last event, so I like him in this spot,” she said.

The sequence wraps up in Race 8 (4:17 p.m.), a 1 1/16-mile claimer for 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races. The heavy 3-5 program favorite is My Sacred Place, who will wear blinkers in his second start for Russell after racing once last year on the grass for trainer Brad Cox. In his first start in 330 days, My Sacred Place was in contention early, dropped back and then came on again to be third in a one-mile claimer May 30 at Belmont Park.

My Sacred Place is Tukker's must-use horse in the sequence.

“It doesn't seem like there's that much pace in the race, so I like the idea of him moving forward and hopefully leaving them all scrambling in behind,” she said.

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Stronach 5 Returns Friday With Racing From Pimlico, Santa Anita, Gulfstream

The Stronach 5 returns Friday with two competitive maiden races and two turf races with full fields from Pimlico and Santa Anita.

The popular wager, cancelled last week when rainstorms forced racing at Pimlico to be called off after the second race, begins Friday at 3:45 ET with Pimlico's seventh race, a 1 1/16 mile claiming race on the turf from for 3-year-olds and up.

Making his first start since February of 2020 will be Rohrbacher (7-2). The 5-year-old gelding finished third at Charles Town in his only start after being claimed by trainer High McMahon in December of 2019. Gunslinger (4-1), who finished third May 28 in his first start since February of 2020, will go out for Mary Eppler. Lucky Ramsey (10-1) drops in class for trainer Kieron Magee.

The second leg of the Stronach 5, Gulfstream's fifth race, features Florida-bred 2-year-olds going five furlongs. Forever Souper (5-2) goes out for trainer Mark Casse, who has won five juvenile races out of seven this meet. Risk Vs Reward (10-1), a son of Practical Joke, goes out for Carlos David while Arindel sends out their homebred Clapton (5-1).

Pimlico's eighth race, a 5 ½ furlong maiden event for 3-to-5-year-old maidens, has a 4-5 favorite in Golden G, coming off a second-place finish for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez. Little Sir John makes his second start after a sixth-place finish at Charles Town May 15 for trainer John Robb.

Santa Anita will play host to the final two legs of the Stronach 5. Santa Anita's second race, a $20,000 claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 mile, has an 8-5 favorite in Summer Rose, beaten just a length last out against similar company. Trainer Phil D'Amato saddles. Circle of Honor (3-1) finished third last out but 10 lengths behind Summer Rose after hopping at the start.

The Stronach 5 concludes with Santa Anita's third race, a maiden special weight event at 1 1/16 mile on the turf for California bred or sired 3-year-olds. Really Big News (7-2), second while sprinting on the turf in his debut May 23, is a slight favorite over a couple others including Wilder Than Most, making his second career start and first since finishing second sprinting on the main track at Del Mar back in August of 2019. Auspicious Style, fifth in his debut in April at Santa Anita, goes out as a first-time gelding and with first-time blinkers for Dan Blacker.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Pimlico 7th Race: (10 entries, 1 1/16-mile turf) 3:45 ET, 12:45 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream 5th Race: (10 entries, 5 furlongs) 4:03 ET, 1:03 PT
Leg Three –Pimlico 8th Race: (9 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:17 ET, 1:17 PT
Leg Four – Santa Anita Race 2nd Race: (8 entries, 1 1/16 mile) 4:30 ET, 1:30 PT
Leg Five –Santa Anita 3rd Race (12 entries, 6 furlongs turf) 5 ET, 2 PT

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.

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Penn National Joins HeadCheck Jockey Health System, Moving Toward Uniform Mid-Atlantic Protocols

Penn National Race Course announced a new partnership with software company HeadCheck Health, Inc. ('HeadCheck') that will equip all staff with a customized system for optimizing concussion and injury management for jockeys within and between racetracks.

Horse racing is a sport that comes with an inherent risk for jockeys. The industry also faces challenges in implementing concussion and injury protocols. There are different resources available at each track, no national overseeing body to mandate requirements, independent state commissions and rules, and a transitory workforce of jockeys.

Since 2019, HeadCheck has worked with various industry stakeholders, customizing the platform to solve many of these issues. Though the program took a backseat to challenges related to COVID-19, it's been quietly continuing to adapt the system to be ready for expansion.

The journey so far has been marked by impressive collaboration and hard work between Dr. Kelly Ryan and the sports medicine team at MedStar Health, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Maryland Jockey Club, and Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Benefit Board.

“The implementation of the HeadCheck program by racetracks in the region is an important step toward protecting the health of jockeys,” said Aaron Gryder, Vice President, Industry Relations, 1/ST RACING. “As a retired jockey myself, I see the HeadCheck program as a key solution for elevating the standard of care by creating consistent medical and head-health monitoring for our athletes.”

HeadCheck is a secure HIPAA compliant system that will improve track management by allowing clear and immediate communication of suspected injuries and jockey health status. This program will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks and all jockeys receive appropriate care before returning to ride.

“We are proud to be joining this initiative and committed to the health and safety of our jockeys,” said Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operations at Penn National Race Course.

HeadCheck's goals align with the industry's: provide a comprehensive system that will save time, reduce the risk of non-compliance to concussion and injury protocols, and improve outcomes for injured riders.

To learn more, visit headcheckhealth.com or contact Eric VanderHelm directly at evanderhelm@headcheckhealth.com or (604) 373-0035.

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