Rainbow Blue back a winner

On the same day the world champion Boston Red Sox received their World Series rings at Fenway Park, world champion 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue made her 2005 return to the races. The day was declared "Rainbow Blue Day" in Delaware by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, and in the easiest of fashions, Rainbow Blue cruised to a never-used 1:53 victory over six rivals in a $50,000 Invitational Pace at Dover Downs.



With Ron Pierce driving, Rainbow Blue went right to the front, taking the lead from Crossfire N (Mike Cole) an eighth of the way into the mile. The first quarter was :26.3 but then Pierce hit the brakes, and with her rivals respecting the Queen in front, paced to a pedestrian :31 second quarter. With a :57.3 half under her belt, the only suspense left at that point was how much the 1-9 favorite would distance herself from the field.



With Crossfire N the only mare keeping close, Rainbow Blue reached the three-quarters in 1:25.2, then paced her final stanza in :27.3 to seal the victory. Crossfire N performed admirably by staying close enough to cross the wire about 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.



The win was Rainbow Blue's 27th in 29 career starts, pushing her earnings past the $1.3 million mark for trainer and co-owner George Teague Jr., his sister Brenda, and Kevin and Ron Fry's K & R Racing.



Next up for Rainbow Blue is a start in the opening round of The Classic Series for older pacing mares, also at Dover Downs on Monday, April 18. With defending older mare Dan Patch winner Loyal Opposition also scheduled to head to Dover off her victory in the $100,000 Strada Memorial last Saturday at the Meadowlands, it could be the first match-up of divisional titans.

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