Rainbow Heir named New Jersey Horse of the Year

Rainbow Heir was named New Jersey’s 2014 Horse of the Year on the strength of a campaign highlighted by a pair of stakes victories at Monmouth Park

The 5-year-old son of Wildcat Heir was also named the state’s champion handicap male and sprinter, winning three of five starts last year for earnings of $147,750. Rainbow Heir’s campaign included wins in the Teddy Drone Stakes and New Jersey Breeders Handicap at Monmouth Park.

Rainbow Heir is campaigned as a homebred by Everett Novak’s New Farm. Benjamin Perkins Jr. is the trainer. It was the second year of New Jersey-bred accolades for the horse, who was named the state’s 3-year-old male of the year in 2013.

Bright View Farm’s Hana J was named New Jersey’s Broodmare of the Year, represented by state champion 3-year-old male Exit Stage Left and champion turf runner Silent Appeal. The mare and both her award-winning foals are products of the Bright View Farm breeding program.

Hana J, a 13-year-old Peaks and Valleys mare, is the dam of two winners from five foals to race.

Defrere was named New Jersey’s stallion of the year for a seventh consecutive season. The 23-year-old son of Deputy Minister and full brother to champion Dehere, had 23 winners in 2014 and combined progeny earnings of $972,524.

Leading the group was Maybe Tonight, who won three of 10 starts last year, including the Jersey Girl Handicap at Monmouth Park. She also finished third in the Plum Pretty Stakes at Parx Racing.

Defrere stood at Wainford Stud in Allentown, N.J., where he was pensioned at the end of the 2014 breeding season.

Following is a complete list of 2014 New Jersey-bred award winners.
Horse of the Year, handicap male, sprinter: Rainbow Heir
Ch. h., 2010, Wildcat Heir—Ranibow Pride, by Prospectors Gamble
Owner/Breeder: New Farm
Trainer: Benjamin Perkins Jr.
2-year-old: Posse Dreamin
B. c., 2012, Posse—Don’t Stop Dreamin, by West Acre
Owner/Trainer/Breeder: Edwin T. Broome
3-year-old male: Exit Stage Left
Ch. c., 2011, Noonmark—Hana J, by Peaks and Valleys
Owner: Mark DeDomenico LLC and Jerry Hollendorfer
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Breeder: Bright View Farm
3-year-old female: More Than a Party
B. f., 2011, More Than Ready—Party to Party, by Jules
Owner/Breeder: Richard Malouf & Edwin Broome (NJ)
Trainer: Edwin Broome
Handicap mare: Geeky Gorgeous
Dk. b. or br. m., 2009, Devil His Due—Thatholeinmypocket, by Pure Prize
Owner/Trainer: Daniel Lopez
Breeder: Joe-Dan Farm
Turf runner: Silent Appeal
B. g., 2008, Hook and Ladder—Hana J, by Peaks and Valleys
Owner: Kasey Two Racing
Trainer: Claudio Gonzalez
Breeder: Bright View Farm
Broodmare of the Year: Hana J
B. m., 2002, Peaks and Valleys—Judaire, by Explodent
Dam of Exit Stage Left and Silent Appeal
Stallion of the Year: Defrere
Dk. b. or br. h., 1992, Deputy Minister—Sister Dot, by Secretariat
46 starters, 23 winners, 33 wins, Earnings: $972,524.
Sire of stakes winner Maybe Tonight