No Big M Open for Blue

Trainer George Teague Jr. was hoping to race 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue in an Open Mares Pace at the Meadowlands this weekend, but the race didn't fill. Coming off a world-record performance in the opening round of the Classic Series at Dover Downs April 18, Teague was looking to keep the 4-year-old Artiscape mare sharp.



"I was disappointed," Teague told The Horseman Thursday morning by cell phone from his barn at Harrington Raceway. "I'm just hoping now that they can fill the race next week."



Teague said Rainbow Blue's next major event isn't scheduled until the second leg of the Classic Series at Woodbine June 4. Over the next month he was hoping that he could find enough starts at the Big M on the way to shipping to Toronto. He also left the door open to possibly even sending "Blue" to Woodbine earlier for a mares open.



Teague didn't hesitate a moment when asked if there was a possibility that he might have to enter Rainbow Blue against male competition in order to find a race?



"No! No! No!" he said. "I don't want to go that route. I'd like to race her for four years so I can't race her hard like that against the boys. I've talked to Ronnie (driver Ron Pierce) and Kevin (co-owner Kevin Fry) and they both agree."

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