River Boyne easy winner of Rainbow Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Back in Southern California after a failed trip to Kentucky last month, River Boyne became a multiple stakes winner with an easy win in Saturday’s $98,000 Rainbow Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita.
The Rainbow Stakes was a prep for two expected appearances in graded stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Del Mar – the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 5 and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2. The Irish-bred River Boyne will leave Santa Anita for Del Mar next month as the leader of the California 3-year-old turf division.
In the Rainbow, River Boyne had an ideal trip under jockey Flavien Prat, stalking pacesetter Blame the Rider to the turn before pulling clear to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths. Blame the Rider held second, followed by Arawak and Respect the Hustle.
Only four started, a disappointing field. Move Over was scratched after developing a temperature Friday, trainer John Sadler said.
River Boyne ($2.80) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.18 and received an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. The only suspense occurred in the opening three furlongs when River Boyne raced well off the rail and seemed eager to challenge Blame the Rider for the lead.
“Down the backstretch, he relaxed,” Prat said. “He might have been a little fresh.”
River Boyne drew alongside Blame the Rider and took the lead entering the stretch.
“I was pretty comfortable and he has a good turn of foot,” Prat said.
Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, River Boyne has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $271,718. A colt by the Mozart stallion Dandy Man, River Boyne has won four consecutive starts on turf at Santa Anita, including the Pasadena Stakes at a mile on turf in March.
River Boyne was fifth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 5 as the 3-1 favorite. Trainer Jeff Mullins said River Boyne was not suited to a yielding turf course that day.
The loss at Churchill Downs did little to dent Prat’s enthusiasm about River Boyne’s future.
“He’s definitely a good horse,” he said.
