Gulfstream Park: Single for the mandatory-payout $13,881 Rainbow Pick 6 carryover

On Sunday at Gulfstream Park, a $13,881 carryover in the 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 will be paid out in mandatory fashion.

All bettors who select the highest number of winners—likely six, but possibly five or even four if enough longshots prevail—will win a share of the carryover, no unique winning ticket required.

Gulfstream Park: Race 5: $13,881 Rainbow Pick 6 mandatory payout (2:51 p.m. ET)

The majority of the races in the sequence have drawn large fields. However, it’s important to note Gulfstream is off the turf on Sunday, so the two grass races in the sequence (Race 7 and Race 10) will be run on Tapeta instead, and scratches may abound.

In any case, one exception to the trend of large fields is Race 5, the opening leg of the Pick 6. It’s a maiden special weight for fillies and mares sprinting seven furlongs on dirt, and only six horses have entered, making Race 7 a perfect spot to seek a single.

Morning-line favorite #2 Queen McKinzie (8-5) is a standout among the experienced runners from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective. Whereas none of her rivals have earned a number higher than 76, Queen McKinzie has run 77 or higher in each of her last five starts.

Queen McKinzie has been especially strong in her last two runs. In a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, she finished second by a neck with an 88 Brisnet Speed rating. Then in a six-furlong dash over the same track and distance, Queen McKinzie ran second with a 91 Brisnet Speed rating.

Some bettors may hesitate to single Queen McKinzie since her 10-0-4-3 lifetime record suggests she has a tendency to settle for minor awards. But it’s hard to make a case for anyone else to step up and defeat her.

Yes, the once-raced #5 Sapphire Girl (2-1) could improve for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who wins at a lofty 27% rate with second-time starters. But in her debut, Sapphire Girl finished 7 3/4 lengths behind Queen McKinzie, so she’ll need a big step forward to turn the tables.

First-time starters #4 Sunna (9-2) and #6 Tapit’s Mischief (7-2) are other potential alternatives to Queen McKinzie, since they’re untested and could well be talented. But both are trained by Kent Sweezey, whose modest 6% win rate with first-time starters suggests Sunna and Tapit’s Mischief are unlikely to nab first prize on debut.

As a result, we recommend singling Queen McKinzie to kick off the Rainbow Pick 6.

Good luck!