Video: MJC Racing Analyst Naomi Tukker’s Rainbow 6 Ticket

BALTIMORE – A Maryland state record carryover jackpot approaching $1 million in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 will greet bettors as live racing returns to historic Pimlico Race Course Friday.

Post time for the first of eight races is 12:40 p.m.

There were no unique winners of the Rainbow 6 on the last live program June 6, when the total pool topped $1 million for the second time in four race days. Despite two horses live to take down the jackpot heading into the finale, the popular multi-race wager saw its carryover jackpot grow to $974,564.10.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico’s spring meet, the Rainbow 6 had its previous state record carryover reach $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.

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Friday’s Rainbow 6 begins in Race 3, a starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the main track where 9-5 program favorite Souper Catch will go after his fourth consecutive victory for trainer Tim Kreiser.

Race 4 is an entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting five furlongs on the grass that drew a field of nine including recent maiden winner Little Bold Bandit, a full brother to 11-time stakes winner Anna’s Bandit, and 6-year-old gelding Forced, narrowly beaten last out when third in in his turf debut and second start off a 508-day layoff.

An overflow field of 14 was entered in Race 6, a 1 1/16-mile grass allowance for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up including March 13 Private Terms winner Shackled Love for main track only. Mike Trombetta-trained Broker’s Reward, a two-time winner on turf, is the morning-line favorite from Post 1.

The feature comes in Race 7, an optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs on the main track. The well-balanced field of six is led by Hydra, a 5-year-old mare with three wins and two seconds from five starts this year entered for the $35,000 tag.