Saturday’s Reggae 6 a knotty affair

SATURDAY's Reggae 6 jackpot, which opens with a $10.2m single-winner bonus, is certainly worth doling a fistful of dollars with hardly a standout banker as opposed to last week when LION OF EKATI made the bet a Pick 5.

Though tossed in as a freebie by being kept in the Reggae 6, LION OF EKATI was the sucker, pulling in players whose bets were later swallowed by a tsunami of upsetters, starting at the third event when speedy SIPPIN ON SUNSHINE, a $500,000 optional-claiming winner on last, repeated up in class among $700,000 company, completing consecutive victories by running slower rivals off their legs at five and a half furlongs at odds of 8-1.

Another claiming rider, Shavon Townsend, booted home PRINCE AZAIRE at odds of 11-1 to land the fourth at five furlongs straight, outfinishing speedsters on the stands side, including howling United States-bred favourite, ROMAN LADY, who tilted the tote at odds of 1-2 after posting glowing exercise reports at the trip.

Though champion jockey Raddesh Roman won the fifth at five and a half furlongs aboard four-year-old maiden LAST POSSESSION, a 1-2 favourite, DESIGN DIVA, LAST POSSESSION's older half-sister, made all to land the sixth at odds of 11-1 with Jaheim Anderson, who moved to four winners so far this season after booting home a three-timer the previous Saturday.

There is no LION OF EKATI to bank in this Saturday's opener so bettors should tread carefully by throwing the kitchen sink at $200,000 claimers going five and a half furlongs. LADY KATGHARA beat most easily on last but claimers are lamers who cannot be guaranteed past one run.

Debutant DREAM CATCHER has caught the eye at exercise over the straight course in the second for three-year-old maidens. However, no maiden debutant, just turned three, should be banked unless showing extraordinary ability at exercise. Therefore experienced MO PAI must accompany the debutant on all bets.

If there's a banker worth taking, Anthony Nunes' THE HOT DANCER deserves a chance to repeat in the fifth among $500,000 claimers after clocking a decent 1:09.1 for five and a half furlongs when beating non-winners of four races.

Nunes has obviously rolled the dice on THE HOT DANCER, who would have graduated to overnight-allowance for his next start, instead opting for a fire sale at $500,000.

REGGAE 6

Race 1: 2, 3, 6, 7, 12

Race 2: 1, 5

Race 3: 2, 3, 5, 7

Race 4: 1, 2 ,3

Race 5: 4

Race 6: 2, 8

TOTAL: $2,400

TWILIGHT 6

Race 6: 2, 8

Race 7: 1

Race 8: 2

Race 9: 4

Race 10: 4

Race 11: 2

TOTAL: $20

BONUS BETS

KETCH 9

Race 3: 2, 3, 5, 7

Race 4: 1, 2 3

Race 5: 2, 4, 10

Race 6: 2, 8

Race 7: 1

Race 8: 2

Race 9: 4

Race 10: 4

Race 11: 2

TOTAL: $360

BEST THREE

Race 8: Whisky

Race 10: Taylor Made

Race 11: Lauren's Secret

OUTSIDER

Race 6: Sir Wong Don