Great Venezuela Brings Record of Consistency into Portofino Bay

Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday
Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $125,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Orlyana Farm’s Great Venezuela will bring a record of uncommon consistency into Saturday’s $70,000 Portofino Bay at Gulfstream Park, where the 4-year-old daughter of Neolithic figures to make her presence felt in the 5 ½-furlong handicap for fillies and mares on Tapeta.

Great Venezuela has finished in the money in all 12 of her lifetimes starts, which includes seven victories. The Victor Barboza Jr.-trained filly looms as an even more prominent contender after reviewing her record on the all-weather surface at Gulfstream, over which she has won five of six starts with a close-up second-place finish in her career debut.

“She has been the most consistent filly in my barn for a long time,” Barboza said. “She has a very good record on the synthetic track with five wins in six races. She is very good for this race. Her workout for the race last week was very good.”

Great Venezuela has run on turf in her four most recent races, including a two-length victory in the Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs. With a record of 2-2-2 in six turf starts, the homebred filly has shown versatility as well as consistency.

“Her best number, 91, came on the synthetic, but for me, I like her on the turf,” Barboza said. “But she runs well on both tracks. She’s very consistent.”

Leonel Reyes, who has been aboard Great Venezuela for her last 11 starts, has the return call.

Barboza reported that Lean Entertainment LLC’s Tiffany Gold, who won the May 25 Lady’s Island Handicap last time out, will be scratched from the Portofino Bay.

Mrs. Gambolini, who was purchased by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds for $325,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale, enters the Portofino Bay off a photo-finish second behind Tiffany Gold last time out. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready registered a front-running victory in the Golden Beach on turf in per previous start.

Mrs. Gambolini, who graduated impressively while debuting on Tapeta last July, will concede one pound to Great Venezuela as the 124-pound highweight. Edgard Zayas has the call.

Joseph Catanese III’s Trumpets, CJ Thoroughbreds and RAF Productions’ Cousin Kristi and Amaty Racing Stables Inc.’s Oh Darlin round out the field.

Mandatory 20-cent Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will take place Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Thursday for the fifth racing day following a mandatory payout that yielded multiple $47,670 payoffs. The jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $125,000 Friday.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta in which Amore Y Control will make a bid to return to winning form following a pair of runner-up finishes. The Elizabeth Dobles-trained 7-year-old mare had finished first in her previous seven starts. Up-and-coming Jose Morales is slated to ride Amor Y Control for the first time Saturday.

The Rainbow 6 carryover pool is 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 usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence.

Should the Rainbow 6 continue to go unsolved through Saturday’s program, the jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $1.25 million Sunday.