Ortiz ‘Grateful’ to Ride Tappan Street in Friday Return

G1 Florida Derby Winner Favored at 4-5 in Comeback
Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $300,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The long-awaited return of 2025 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street spices up a nine-race program Friday at Gulfstream Park where the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is estimated reach $300,000.

First race post time is 12:20 p.m.

WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and Cold Press Racing’s Tappan Street is favored over six rivals at 4-5 on the morning line in Race 7, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile on the main track.

After winning the Florida Derby March 29, Tappan Street was sidelined with a condylar fracture of his right front leg while training for the Kentucky Derby (G1), which was won by Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty as a prelude to victories in the Belmont (G1), Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1).

Tappan Street, a 3-year-old bay son of Into Mischief trained by Brad Cox, has raced exclusively at Gulfstream starting with his 1 ¾-length debut victory sprinting seven furlongs Dec. 28, 2024. He finished second to Burnham Square in his sophomore debut, the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3).

Ridden by Luis Saez in each of his first three races, Tappan Street will have the services of record six-time Championship Meet leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. from Post 3. Tappan Street has been breezing regularly since Nov. 1 at Payson Park for his return.

“He’s a nice horse. I’ve seen all his races,” Ortiz said after winning Race 4 Thursday aboard Sniper Jack ($4.80). “He looks very nice. Coming off the layoff, Brad always does a great job getting his horses ready. I’m excited. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get on the horse. Hopefully, everything goes the right way.”

Friday’s feature is the fourth leg of the Rainbow 6 sequence, which begins with a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint on the main track in Race 4 and concludes with a maiden claiming event for 2-year-olds scheduled for a two-turn mile on the grass in Race 9.

Race 5 is an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for five furlongs on the turf that drew a field of 10 including Robert Cotran’s Florida-bred Rezasrolex, who chases an eighth consecutive victory and 12th overall. The 4-year-old gelding, a perfect 4-0 this year, will be racing for just the second time on turf after going 10-for-13 on the all-weather Tapeta.

The 9-5 program favorite is Morplay Racing’s Poseidon’s Law, a 3-year-old son of Tiz the Law making his third start. The bay colt captured his unveiling over older horses June 29 on the all-weather Tapeta course and ran fifth in an open allowance Oct. 31 on the Churchill Downs turf.

In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot 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 goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for 10 consecutive racing days following multiple mandatory payouts of $13,268.58 Nov. 29. Another mandatory payout is scheduled for Sunday, when the jackpot pool is expected to reach $3 million if not hit beforehand.

On mandatory payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is disbursed to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

Who’s Hot: Jockey David Egan doubled Thursday aboard Amelia ($3.80) in Race 2 and Cairo Comedy ($6.60) in Race 8 … Trainer Michael Lerman saddled a pair of winners, Beauty Bolt ($14.80) in Race 1 and Denver’s Alley ($10.20) in Race 6.