Gulfstream Park: Horses to bet in the mandatory-payout $311,589 Rainbow Pick 6

A $311,589 Rainbow Pick 6 carryover is scheduled for mandatory payout on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The final pool for the 20-cent wager is expected to exceed $2 million.

Looking forward to playing along? We’ve analyzed the six-race sequence and identified a pair of appealing horses to build tickets around:

Best single

Race 6: $12,500 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs): #8 Oriental Park (8-5)

The opening leg of the Rainbow 6 (post time 3:07 p.m. ET) provides arguably the best opportunity for a reliable single, because morning line favorite Oriental Park looks formidable.

At first glance, this might seem like a tricky spot for Oriental Park, who was beaten a head in a $6,250 claimer sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream two weeks ago. How can we single Oriental Park when he’s ascending the class ladder?

The jump in class might be meaningful on paper, but this $12,500 claimer hasn’t drawn the toughest field. Oriental Park’s rivals have largely been struggling, and most are exiting consecutive off-the-board finishes with Brisnet Speed ratings not exceeding 72. In contrast, Oriental Park posted an 84 in his near-miss and a 78 when winning a $6,250 claimer two starts back.

In short, Oriental Park brings the best recent form to the table and should visit the winner’s circle if he brings his A-game.

Live longshot

Race 10, Benny the Bull S. (seven furlongs): #8 King Cab (5-1)

The graded stakes-placed #6 Dean Delivers (9-5) is a logical favorite in this sprint for Florida-breds after dominating a six-furlong allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream by 5 1/4 lengths. But two starts back, Dean Delivers lost the Sophomore S. at Tampa Bay Downs to King Cab, and it’s possible King Cab will maintain his superiority on Saturday.

King Cab got burned up setting intense fractions of :21.79 and :43.84 in the unrestricted Carry Back S. for three-year-olds at Gulfstream last month, weakening in the final furlong to finish fourth. But two starts back, King Cab finished a good second against Florida-bred older horses in the Big Drama S., carving out a quick pace on his way to beating everyone except next-out Smile Sprint S. (G2) winner Willy Boi.

If King Cab is able to set a more relaxed pace on Saturday than he did in the Carry Back, he’s eligible to outrun his 5-1 morning line odds and vie for victory at a nice price.

Good luck!