Catalytic. (Ryan Thompson)
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $125,000
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – D J Stable LLC and Robert Cotran’s Hades withstood race-long, three-wide pressure for a mile and an eighth while carrying highweight of 123 pounds to prevail by a neck in the $75,000 Tackleberry Handicap at Gulfstream Park only to be disqualified and placed second via disqualification for stretch interference.
Tami Bobo’s Catalytic, who was involved in applying pressure on Hades through the handicap for 3-year-olds and up, was placed first following a long stewards’ inquiry that resulted in the disqualification of the first-place finisher who was determined to drift out into the eventual winner in the stretch.
The final time was 1:50.14. Relampago Verde was a half length behind in third.
“It was a judgment call,” Hades’ trainer Joe Orseno said. “I’m happy with his race; I’m happy with his performance; I’m happy with his gutsiness.”
Catalytic, the 3-2 favorite ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, was making his first start since being transferred to trainer Antonio Sano’s stable a month ago while in receipt of four pounds from Hades.
“The horse ran good. There was a little bump two times,” Sano said.
Hades, the 8-5 second betting choice ridden by Edgard Zayas, set the pace, cutting fractions of 23.45 and 47.30 seconds for the first half mile while flanked by Eldest Son and Catalytic. Eldest Son dropped back approaching the far turn as Catalytic pulled alongside Hades, racing as a team around the turn into the stretch while joined by Relampago Verde to their outside. Hades fought off his challengers to the wire, only to be disqualified.
“Coming into the lane it got a little tight. I was using my position. I wanted to keep going with [Hades]. Turning into the lane, he didn’t give me a chance to run clear,” said Gonzalez, who notched his 2000th career win Sunday. “He was drifting out and bumped my horse three times. I know my horse was doing good, and he tried so hard. He put up a fight.”
Formerly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalytic was coming off an entry-level allowance win at Gulfstream June 5, but the 4-year-old son of Catalina Cruiser has kept some pretty classy company in the past. He finished a distant second behind Fierceness in the 2024 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) before finishing off the board in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Hades, who was making only his second start in 2025 Friday, finished fifth in last year’s Curlin Florida Derby after resisting race-long pressure to win the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) by two lengths.
“It was almost the same trip he had in the Holy Bull,” Orseno said. “Only it was a mile and an eighth. He hadn’t been that far, and he was only coming off one seven-furlong race. I was more concerned with the distance more than the horses.”
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $125,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $125,000 Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for four racing days following a mandatory payout.
The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, featuring the $75,000 Miss Gracie in Race 9. Carlos David-trained Scarlet Sands will make her stakes debut in the mile-and-70-yard stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Tapeta, in which she will bid for her third-straight victory. The 9-5 morning-line favorite, who won her last two on turf, will be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, who notched his 2000th career victory on Sunday’s card.
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 usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
