Breeders Crown: Champion mare Rainbow Blue has a talented daughter

During the Breeders Crown eliminations at Woodbine Racetrack, we will have a chance to remember one of racing’s elite mares. While Rainbow Blue, winner of 30 career races in 32 starts from 2003 to 2005, will not be in attendance, her first daughter will try to become one of seven to make it to next Saturday’s $600,000 Filly Pace Final.

After foaling three colts who have earned just $102,575 to date, Rainbow Blue finally foaled a filly in her mold. The mating with Somebeachsomewhere produced Somwherovrarainbow for owner/breeders K and R Racing LLC and George Teague Jr., who also trains the Crown hopeful.

“Right from day one she had an uncanny resemblance to her mom,” said Teague, who also trained Rainbow Blue. “She was not as massive overall and perhaps didn’t have her gears, but she may be faster than her mom.”

To date, Somwherovrarainbow has bankrolled $107,556, earning a good chunk of that sum on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit. The filly took a shot against open foes in the Eternal Camnation and Shes A Great Lady stakes at Mohawk Racetrack in August and could only muster a third-place finish and a sixth, respectively. But those final positions could be deceiving.

In the Eternal Camnation, Somwherovrarainbow was fifth-over in a dead flow with no chance of winning. She closed in a swift 26 2/5 seconds for third. The following week she was once again in a tough spot, sitting last at the head of the stretch before sprinting home with an identical 26 2/5 kicker.

“I think she is a top filly,” said Teague, who currently trains 40 horses. “That is the reason I sent her up for those races. But she never had a chance. I couldn’t have mapped out two tougher trips.”

In September she cruised to a pair of easy wins at The Meadows and qualified in 1:55 on October 6 to prepare for Friday’s assignment against divisional standouts L Dees Lioness, Nikki Beach, and the undefeated (2-for-2) Power Pack Hanover.

Starting from the rail in race 3, new driver Andy Miller has plenty of options with Somwherovrarainbow. With I Luv The Nitelife, Parlee Beach and UF Dragon’s Queen receiving byes into the final, he only needs to finish seventh or better in the 10-horse elimination to advance.

Teague, who is known for transforming bargain-basement yearling into stars, thinks he has something special in Somwherovrarainbow. Whether or not she can live up to her mom’s greatness is still up for questioning.

“She is fast enough and I’m impressed with that. But it is one thing to be fast and another to be great,” concluded Teague.

Assuming nothing goes wrong in her elimination, Somwherovrarainbow should have a chance on October 27 to make her mom proud.