Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Trainer and co-owner George Teague Jr. and his sister Brenda Teague grew up in Melfa, Deleware, the progeny of a standardbred trainer, George Teague, who had a training track in Keller. While the Teagues have had their fair share of standouts over the years, none has stood out as much as Rainbow Blue--whom they purchased for a mere $10,500 at the Jersey Classic Yearling Sale at Show Place. The Teagues base their stable at Harrington.

"She's really just an exceptional filly," Teague said. "I knew toward the end of last season that she would be among the best three-year-old fillies in the country this year. She's got good size for a filly and she's been much easier to drive this year. We changed the rigging on her a little and she's been much better. Ron Pierce gets along with her perfectly. They're both having a great year and we're hoping it will continue."

"It's a lot of fun. It's everyone dream to have a horse like this and I'm blessed to get one," Teague said. "She races on the front end and has the ability to lead. She is a good overall horse and is easy to keep."
Rainbow Blue finish

Rainbow Blue in rein to Ron Pierce at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky Photo by Ed Keys

Brenda is Rainbow Blue's constant companion and caretaker and transports the filly to most of her races. She'll load the filly herself and get up behind the wheel of the truck and trailer, and head out on the road with her prized charge. After working for her father, Brent honed her skills at Rosecroft Raceway for trainer Bryce Truitt and Tom Jackson. She is ever-devoted to Rainbow Blue

"She's just one of those horses that does everything right," Brenda said. "She's a big filly and she doesn't mind training. In fact, most of the mornings she's an angel. But on race days, she definitely puts her game face on. She can be somewhat nasty on those days. She's been known to bite at someone if they got to close to her. But she doesn't really mind shipping to other tracks. In fact, I think she's calmer away from home a lot of times."

Except for a miscue in the Mistletoe Shalee final on Hambletonian Day, Rainbow Blue has been perfect this year for her owners.

"She's just been incredible," co-owner Ron Fry said. "We've owned some good horses in the past, like Lucky Ann and Theatrical Hanover and Starter Hanover, but nothing like her. George has done an incredible job with her. We've been to every one of her races this year. We've gone to New Jersey, Canada, Kentucky, wherever she's gone that's where we've gone. We've had some good offers for her, but we're in this for the fun more than the money."

Rainbow Blue began her three-year-old season with a couple of winning qualifiers at Dover Downs and then at the Meadowlands. She then competed in and won two legs and the $73,760 final of the Blossom Series at the Big M in April, pacing in 1:53.4, 1:51.4 and and 1:52 in the final.

She followed that up with a win in both the $10,000 elimination and the $100,000 Roses Are Red final at Hazel Park in May, and then rattled off victories in the legs of $150,000 final of the New Jersey Sires Stakes at The Meadowlands.

Rainbow Blue then captured the $85,171 Ladyship Final in 1:50.1 at the Meadowlands on July 3, and headed to Rosecroft where she won a three-year-old filly stake. Her next win came on July 23 in the $87,500 Tarport Hap Final at the Meadowlands, before she won her $25,000 Misletoe Shalee elim on July 30 in 1:50.3. However, she came back a week later on Hambletonian Day and made an uncharacteristic break at the start, finishing last and out of the winner's circle for the only time this year.

After a few weeks rest, Rainbow Blue returned to post victories in the $543,543 Fan Hanover Final and elimination, pacing in 1:49.2 at Woodbine on August 21 in her elim and winning the final in 1:51.1. on August 28. She then won the $222,000 Nadio Lobell at The Red Mile in 1:49.2, before taking the $120,000 Glen Garnsey at Lexington in 1:51.2 on October 8. Supplemented into the race at a cost of $12,000, Rainbow Blue returned a quick dividend on her investment as the $60,000 winner's share pushed her career bankroll toward $880,000.

In the $610,000 Breeders Crown final at Woodbine on October 23, as the 1-5 favorite, Rainbow Blue took the lead about halfway through the mile to score her 17th win of the year in 1:51.

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