by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

DOVER, Del. — 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue picked right up where she left off last season scoring a front-pacing 1:53 victory on Monday, April 11 at Dover Downs. David Miller had five winners including the $35,000 Preferred, $32,500 Delaware Special and $28,000 Open paces. In her first pari-mutuel start of the year, Ron Pierce took Teague Inc. and K&R Inc.’s Rainbow Blue into the lead early and set all the fractions on the way to a 1:53 triumph in a $50,000 Mares Invitational pace. Crossfire N, the Horse of the Meet last season, stalked the winner the entire mile but driver Mike Cole had to settle for second place. Ann Other Porsche with Steve Warrington edged the Brad Hanners-driven Tawney for third.

On Rainbow Blue Day in Delaware, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner accompanied by Lt. Gov. John Carney read a proclamation setting this day as a special day for the honoree on her near perfect season winning Horse of the Year award in both the U.S. and in Canada. A crowd of around 80 people, including trainer co-owner George Teague, Brenda Teague, Kevin and Ron Fry of Houston, Del. and driver Ron Pierce, a 2005 Hall of Fame inductee, were in the winner’s circle for the presentation.

A pleasant Spring late afternoon with temperatures from 52-degrees early to 46 at the end of the card, was a perfect setting for one of the fastest 15 race programs over a five-eighths mile track in history with 12 races won in 1:53.4 and faster. The slowest races were a 1:55.1, a 1:54.4, and a 1:54.1 mile.

A $35,000 Preferred Handicap headed a powerful supporting card. Driven To Win, owned by Ted Gewertz, the Franks and trainer Joe Holloway, enjoyed a perfect 2-hole trip. David Miller took him to the outside in the stretch and out brushed Master This and Brian Sears for a 1:51 victory. Life Is A Cabaret finished third for Jim Morand.

Rodney Mitchell’s Dream Wave carved out his second straight opening lengths victory to win the $32,500 Delaware Special. David Miller was behind the five-year-old Dream Away horse. Crew Cut Zach became the latest horse to become a millionaire for breeders-owners Gary and Barbara Iles when Brad Hanners drove the 10-year-old to a second-place finish. Tons The Best and Kevin Sizer was third.

Bill Camp’s Racing Naked completed a David Miller-driven sweep of the top three sub-feature events capturing the $28,000 Open Handicap pace in 1:51.4. HR’s Mr. Kelly was a game second for trainer-driver Roger Hammer. Brian Sears drove Stonebridge Premio to third.

Miller scored his fifth win of the day giving owner Bill Emmons a triple when Tug River Jim breezed home a 1:53.2 winner in an $18,000 Delaware Winners-Over pace. Transit Early A (Travis Bowman) closed well to take second in front of Fox Valley Michael (Jim Morand).

The other $18,000 Delaware Winners-Over pace went to Brad Mitchell’s The Tar Heel Stable’s Iwannabesedated. Brad Hanners took the winner to the front just after the start and said good by to eight rivals for a 1:52.4 victory. Coopers Creek N (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up. Clean Sweep (Cat Manzi) took third.

Kevin Sizer, who made the winner’s circle twice, took the lead early teaming with John Hynansky and Bill Brooks’ veteran Getaway Hall for a 1:53.4 score. Life Moves On (Brian Sears) was second in front of Irish Shad (David Miller).

Bob Aerenson, Ross Weiner and Wendy Crissman’s The Newfie Bullet was David Miller’s other winner. The Canadian invader stepped up in company to win the $30,000 Claiming Allowance with a 1:53.1 performance. TSM Scar Face (Brian Sears) skipped along the passing lane to finish right there second. Porcini Hanover (Hal Belote) was third.

Dom Rafanelli’s Galactic Council N notched a 1:53.3 victory his second in three starts for trainer-driver Roger Plante in a $40,000 Claiming pace. Wynfield Bob (Herve Filion) was next. Perfect Cam (Jim Morand) was the show horse.

Casimir Bad Boy, a 19-1 shot, won a $40,000 Claiming pace when Hal Belote guided a 1:53.4 win. Ronnie Mac A (George Dennis) finished second with Ton Of Diamonds (Bran Sears) the show finisher.

In a $30,000 claimer, Brian Sears got Rodney Long and Howard Bowen’s Elwood J Blue N back to the winner’s circle for the third time this year scoring a 1:54.4 win. Keystone Rohm (George Dennis) and Tux (Brad Hanners) were second and third respectively.

Trio to clash in feature

Roses Best, Go Flyin N, and Jennie Fanetta will lead a field of seven horse in a $21,000 Mares Junior Open Handicap pacing feature on Tuesday, April 12 at Dover Downs. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).

A one-time Horse of the Meet at Dover, Roses Best drew a good inside post, and the Toby Lynch owned, trained, and driven Cambest-sired 9-year-old will be the one to catch in the day’s top race. Les Walls and Jack Upchurch’s Go Flyin N, with the meet’s leading driver, Brad Hanners, aboard, and Howard Taylor’s classy homebred Jenny Fanetta, to be reined by Ed Nickle, have both been sharp as of late.

Jenny’s Picnic, owned by Don Hawk, John Hynansky, and trainer Dan Warrington, will have to overcome the outside post, number seven, with Steve Warrington at the controls. Brooks Stables’ Hasty Dewar will be driven by her trainer, Kevin Sizer. RN Artist drew the rail for owner, trainer, and driver Roger Hanners. The lone newcomer to this class will be Evere’s Connection and driver Eddie Davis, who pulled an 8-1 surprise win in her first start after having been claimed by Bob Gianquitti.

A $17,500 wares winners-over pace will field eight distaffers. Jeff and David Clark’s Bluebird Wanda (Hal Belote) will leave from the rail, and Bob Collins’ West Coast Arturo (Eddie Davis) will start alongside the former. The Roger Plante owned, trained, and driven Seasin sports four wins at this meet, and won in 1:53³ last week.

The rest of the starters will be Miss Mackintush and driver Steve Warrington, Levine, Casalino, and Golden Goose Enterprise’s Ruthy Ruthless N (Jim Morand), Rodney Long’s strong finisher Mapua Magic N (Ross Wolfenden), Bob Larrimore’s How About Gal (Sean Bier), and Rodney Mitchell’s Canaco Lilly (Kevin Sizer).

Steve Jones’ Love The Game (Sean Bier), who will be looking for her fifth straight win, drew a second tier post for a $12,500 pace for fillies and mares. Trevor Warwick and Bill Seplowe’s Famous Deal N (Kevin Sizer), Amy Warrington’s Isn’t She Fancy (Steve Warrington), and Bay Express N (Jim Morand), owned by Ed Mass, Howard Paisley and trainer John Bryan, are among a strong field of contenders.