Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Rainbow Blue qualifies in 1:51.4 at Big M

Friday, April 1, 2005

Rainbow Blue, driven by Ron Pierce, scored a wire-to-wire win in 1:51.4 in qualifying action on Friday morning at the Meadowlands. The defending Horse of the Year made her third and final tune up before heading back to Delaware for her season's debut in a $50,000 mares invitational at Dover Downs on April 11.

"I'm very pleased," said trainer co-owner George Teague Jr. "She went a 1:51.1 mile off a first quarter in 29. You've got to be happy with a mile like that. She came out of the race good. This wasn't hard for her. I qualified her three times [first two at Dover in 1:57.1 and 1:54.3]. I believe you need a foundation for a horse coming back. I want to have her ready for the mares she's going to have to face, horses like Loyal Opposition. Overall, I'm very happy with where she's at. She's exactly where I want her to be."

Rainbow Blue was in the 11th of 12 qualifiers and clicked off quarters of 29 seconds, 56.3, 1:24.2 and a final 27.2 for a mile in 1:51.4. After the invitational at Dover, Rainbow Blue is expected to remain in Delaware for the opening leg of the Classic Series on April 18. Two legs of the Classic Series are also at the Meadowlands, the third round on July 23 and the final on July 30. The mare was also nominated to the $200,000 Lady Liberty on June 10 and $175,000 estimated Golden Girls on August 6, both at the Meadowlands. Rainbow Blue, who won 20 of 21 starts in 2004 and earned $1,195,010 toward a career total $1,297,684, is a four-year-old daughter of Artiscape - Vesta Blue Chip. The fastest Meadowlands qualifying mile was 1:50.3 set by Western Ideal in 2000.