Many bankers on Reggae 6 mandatory payout day

ASH Wednesday's Reggae 6 mandatory payout starts at the opening event, a $350-$250,000 claiming race at five furlongs straight in which BATON ROUGE stands out as a possible banker after going down by a length and a half to recent return-winner MUSKETOON at six furlongs on Christmas Eve.

However, with $20 million-plus expected in the mandatory-payout pool, which starts at $14.2 million, it is best advised to spread bets in the Reggae 6 opener, no matter how appealing BATON ROUGE might appear.

BATON ROUGE had first raced among $250,000 claimers on November 16, plunging from $550,000 a month earlier, only to finish sixth behind SENSATIONAL SATIN, FROM SHEER TO BEN and course-specialist STANISLAUS, who subsequently ran good races for second behind SABINA and BUZZ ASSAULT.

It should also be noted that BATON ROUGE races out of a new barn since his second-place run behind MUSKETOON , claimed by Damon Gayle from Steadman Curtis. Prior to his second-place run out of Curtis' barn on Christmas Eve, BATON ROUGE's best run in three outings was last summer. Third behind EAGLE ONE in July.

To be on the safe side, STANISLAUS, MANACO, BIG GUY IN THE SKY, BATON ROUGE, WILL THE CONQUEROR, BAD INVESTMENT and HEIR OF FIRE are all worthy selections to start the Reggae 6 on a winning note.

Bankers follow aplenty with LINGUIST, first-timer I DREAM AGAIN and SHE'S DALLAS LOVE being standouts in races two to four. SHE'S DALLAS LOVE returning off a four-month break might be of concern. However, she appears to be in great shape at exercise, striding six furlongs in 1:21.3 recently.

United States-bred PINEAPPLE will have her fair share of backers in the fourth after setting strong splits at a mile when beaten into third by LUCY IN THE SKY and THE GENERAL on February 8. Middle-distance splits can be tricky, especially a mile, which is basically four furlongs straight to the half-mile marker, a deceptive standard, compared with a sprint starting close to the bend.

Note how PINEAPPLE was outsped by PRINCESS FIANIE at six furlongs in her previous race, which makes her suspect against SHE'S DALLAS LOVE, who won five furlongs round in 1:01.2 when last raced in October.

LET HIM FLY and TURNONTHELIGHT are both returning from strong marker races, making them inseparable in the fifth. Close those bets with three selections in the sixth, LUCKY PAPA, YORKIST and RUBY'S LIGHT, who could very well be the longest shot on the Reggae 6.