by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Following Rainbow Blue’s impressive victory in one of two $26,613 Matron Three-Year-Old Filly Pace elims at Dover Downs on Monday, Nov. 8, the topic of “Horse of the Year” honors came up.
Ron Pierce has driven the Artiscape filly in 16 of her 19 races this year.
“I give Windsong’s Legacy a lot of credit. He came up big in the three races he needed, but he skipped the World Trotting Derby (won by Tom Ridge in world record time driven by Pierce) and he lost only three races during the year.” Pierce continued, “Rainbow Blue has not missed a race from April until now. She’s equaled the world record twice, and believe me, I only called on her (for more speed) once, and that was in the mud at Woodbine. Nobody’s ever been on a filly better than her. Not only has she beaten all the fillies this year, but I really believe she would also beat all the colts. They’re are not fast enough to catch her!”
George Teague, Jr. bought Rainbow Blue as a yearling for $10,500 at the Fall Classic Sale from the Winbak Farm consignment. I offered her to a couple of my owners who turned her down thinking her too big. Then Kevin Fry (Teague’s long time owner) said he would take her.”
Since then Rainbow Blue has raced 26 times with 24 wins, 18 for 19 this season and won more than a million dollars. “If they looked at (the two leading contenders for Horse of the Year honors) equally, I think “Blue” deserves it. She’s done it all year long and not just for three (Triple Crown) races,” said Teague. But the conservative Teague interjects, “If she’s not on the top of her game for the (Matron Final), there are four of five who could be right there.”
Hall of Famer John Campbell, who drove L Dees Val to victory in 1:52 to win the second Matron elim, has raced many of the finest fillies of the last two decades. Campbell says, “(Rainbow Blue) is certainly one of the greatest three-year-old fillies ever. They are so rare. When they come along, you’ve got to appreciate it while she’s here.”
Ironically, Rainbow Blue’s Matron elim win was the first time the filly who trains 20 miles away at Harrington Raceway had ever raced in Delaware. Teague, whose late father was a trainer, and who teams with his sister Brenda handling a modest group of mostly young pacers, says when asked how he is enjoying this season, “The is the most fun I’ve ever had.” He especially likes the fact that he didn’t have to travel far to race her. “It’s good to be here. It’s a lot closer trip than where we have been taking her. (Almost all of her races have been at the Meadowlands or at Woodbine in Canada). This is about the only place I don’t get lost going to,” he laughed.
“After the Matron Final, Blue will get some time off and then be back to race in the Spring,” Teague stated.