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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