from Meadowlands Media Relations

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.

TETRICK LOOKS AT HIS SATURDAY ASSIGNMENTS

Illinois-based driver Tim Tetrick will journey to the Meadowlands for seven driving assignments on Saturday night.

All seven drives for the 23-year-old Tetrick are with horses trained by Robin Schadt, and he reviewed his prospects, race by race.

“Bubba McGee [rated 7-2 in the morning line from post four in the first race] is a real surprise,” Tetrick said. “He was a $15,000 claimer back in late January. Now he’s right there with the 40s [$40,000 claimers]. He won last week [at Balmoral Park], and he did it the right way. He sat up close and blew by late. He’s the kind of horse who can rough it, take some air. You don’t have to drive him a certain way. Right now in Chicago, the claimers are inflated some with a lot of the better horses leaving town. The $40,000 claimers are probably 30s, and the $30,000 claimers 25s.”

Midnight Gambit, from post eight and rated 7-2 in the third race, was claimed last week after winning for an $80,000 tag. “I watched him race last week,” noted Tetrick. “I know he’s a very consistent horse. Robin claimed him for $80,000 and put him back in for $100,000. I’ve never driven him before, but I’m anxious to get behind him.”

Odds On Dana, who finished eighth last week in his Meadowlands debut, faces post 10 in the fourth race where he is 8-1 in the morning line. Tetrick feels the five-year-old son of Artiscape – Nadia Lobell had his excuses heading into his fourth start of the year.

“He had a 16 to 17 hour ship last Monday getting to the Meadowlands, and then he drew the outside post,” he explained. “The track was favoring the speed horses all night last Saturday, so he was up against it. But he still only got beat a couple [of lengths]. I think he’ll be a lot better this week. If you look at his lines since he came back this year, he was a nose off of Foxy Maneuver in his first try and that is a classy horse out here for a long time. Then he drew in with Color Me Best and Quik Pulse Mindale. They came home in 26, and he held his spot. He finished in 26.1. This week he stays in the same class and has a much better chance.”

Big Shame, 5-1 from post nine in the eighth race, had won four of eight at Balmoral before finishing ninth his first start at the Meadowlands last week.

“This is a very nice horse,” Tetrick said of Big Sham. “He also was a $15,000 claimer, and he’s made his way up to the featured races.

He beat them a few times, too. Carl Porcelli had him a while back. He can leave the gate 100 [miles per hour] but does have a tendency to struggle on the turns, especially the second one. Last week I was going to the top with him before the half, but then Ron [Pierce with Yankee Sensation] popped the two-hole to retake, and I got hung up out there.

This class my be just right for him.”

In the 11th race, Tetrick has the rail with 5-2 favorite Typhoid who won last week with Cat Manzi driving. He was claimed out of the race, the third time he has changed hands this meet.

“He was a $30,000 claim, and he looks to me like a classy horse,” Tetrick said. “He won last out and just missed the time before that. This is the first time I’ve driven him.”

Tetrick’s call in the 12th race is with Steady Wacken, 7-2 from post five.

“He won a couple in a row back home but didn’t beat a lot,” he recalled. “That was in February. The first time I raced him was in the free for all [at Balmoral]. He’s bounced around to some different levels.”

In the 13th and final race of the night, Tetrick will handle Franco Sequel N, 9-2 from post seven.

“He was a little over his head last week,” he noted. “I shook loose and got out for fourth. That was the first time I drove him. He drops some in class. I have to think he fits here better.”

HAMBLETONIAN PARADE CHILDREN’S ART CONTEST ANNOUNCED

Entries are being accepted for a Hambletonian Parade Poster Contest sponsored by the Rutherford Downtown Partnership.

The 3rd annual Hambletonian Parade and Festival will be held in Downtown Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday morning, July 30, 2005. The Parade, which is the opening event for Hambletonian Week at the Meadowlands, features horses, bands, classic cars and stars of the post.

The contest is open to youngsters ages eight to 15. The grand prize is $100. The winner’s artwork will be used for the posters and program covers for this event.

Artwork should be submitted in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ format and should be accompanied [on a separate piece of paper] with the artist’s name, address, phone number, age and a parental/guardian letter indicating approval for this artwork to be used for posters, flyers, event program covers, and any other publicity that is developed for the Hambletonian Parade and Festival. Materials to provide ideas for the artist are available in the Children’s Department of the Rutherford Public Library.

All entries should be sent to: The Rutherford Downtown Partnership, 176 Park Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070 no later than 12 noon on Monday, April 25, 2005.

AROUND THE MEADOWLANDS FOR APRIL 1, 2005

In 2004, Mark Harder pulled off a training trifecta. He led all trainers in wins at the Meadowlands, topped the nation in earnings and won the Meadowlands Pace. That is a tough act to follow. “I’m trying to defend my title,” said Harder of the Meadowlands training crown. “I think I can do it. My business has changed quite a bit. I have 55 horses and the emphasis is on younger horses. I have many more two and three-year-olds than ever before. I am excited about them. I really am. I have some good ones returning.” Two of his more experienced competitors are free for aller Eaton Road Kill and 2004 Meadowlands Pace winner Holborn Hanover. “He’s been racing his heart out every week, but Life Source has just been head and shoulders above everyone,” Harder said of Eaton Road Kill. As for Holborn Hanover: “He’s developed into a real racehorse. The Cam’s Card Sharks, you can’t knock them off their feet. The way he finished up last year, I really think he was the best as the year wound up.”

So much for the disadvantage of an outside post position. On Thursday at the Meadowlands, of 10 races with nine or more starters, six of the winners came from posts nine and 10.

Veteran horseman Ben Webster, best know for his successes with the horses Oil Burner and No Nukes, is home and recuperating from triple bypass surgery. “He sounds great,” reported his daughter, Laureen. “He says to tell everyone that they should not be afraid to have it done. I always knew he was a strong man, but this is amazing. He sounds like he has more energy already compared to a number of years ago so this must have been a long process that just wore him down. It was everyone’s love and prayers that helped him through this.”