from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – July 23, 2004 – Neither a sloppy track nor the presence of the 2003 Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year could deny Rainbow Blue her 15th straight victory on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

The much-anticipated first meeting of Rainbow Blue and Kikikatie, last year’s freshman champion, in the sixth race, the first of two $87,500 divisions of the Tarport Hap, turned into a showcase for Rainbow Blue, whose 1:50 flat mile on a sloppy surface was a stakes record.

Rainbow Blue, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by George Teague Jr., has now won 17 of 18 career starts and banked more than $400,000 for K&R Racing LLC and Teague Inc., both of Houston, Delaware. The three-year-old daughter of Artiscape is a perfect 11 wins in 11 starts in 2004.

Rainbow Blue [$3.40, $2.40, $2.10] drew off to a four and a quarter length victory over She’s My Belle [$5.60, $2.40]. Kikikatie [$2.20], suffering only her second loss in 18 career starts, was third by five lengths.

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L Dees Val, driven by John Campbell, posted a half-length victory over Nu-Diamond Star in the second division of the Tarport Hap.

“She’s a very special filly, no question about it,” said Pierce, who has driven the Rainbow Blue in most of her starts. “She always does more. I’m very happy with her tonight. We got to the top and put the brakes on. I shook the whip at the eighth, and she gave more.

Kikikatie is a very special filly. but we had the edge on fitness. I wasn’t sure about the off track. She handled it okay. When I had Kikikatie on my back and John [Campbell with She’s My Belle] on the outside, I was going to keep her [Kikikatie] in as long as I could.”

“She felt great,” said David Miller, the driver of Kikikatie.

“It was only her third start back [this year]. I was happy with her. I didn’t know how good she was going to be tonight. I was certainly not disappointed in her. It just might take her a few starts.”

The fillies will next meet in the July 30 eliminations for the $350,000 Mistletoe Shalee which is on August 7 at the Meadowlands.

In the second division of the Tarport Hap, L Dees Val [$16.40, $7.60, $9.00], driven by John Campbell and trained by Mark Capone, posted a half-length victory over Nu-Diamond Star [$7.00, $5.40]. LT’s Magic [$23.20] was third by a length and three-quarters. The mile was timed in 1:51.3.