Touching Rainbows gets pot of gold in California Cup Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Touching Rainbows ran exclusively in stakes in the last seven months of 2018, with two third-place finishes to show for the effort. In his first start of 2019, in Saturday’s $150,351 California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, Touching Rainbows recorded his first stakes win with a hard-fought performance over a game pacesetter in Richard’s Boy.

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Touching Rainbow ($8) closed from third in a field of six to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Richard’s Boy, who is best known for finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in 2017.

Touching Rainbows finished six furlongs in 1:09.88 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97. Through the race, the 6-year-old gelding gave Pereira a feeling of confidence.

“My horse was running easy in the first part,” Pereira said. “I thought I’d go, and he responded.”

Touching Rainbows was third entering the stretch and did not catch Richard’s Boy until the final furlong.

“Tiago had him in the right spot,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Once he got him close enough to the other horse to engage, he ran him down.”

Richard’s Boy led through fractions of 22.13 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.96 for a half-mile, leading by as much as 2 1/2 lengths on the turn. Richard’s Boy finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Edwards Going Left, the 8-5 favorite who won the 2018 California Cup Sprint.

Minoso, the 65-1 outsider in a field of six, finished fourth, followed by Shades of Victory and Heck Yeah.

Heck Yeah, a three-time stakes winner in 2018 who was the 2-1 second choice, faded in the stretch in his first start since April and first appearance outside of his age group.

Touching Rainbows, by Aragorn, has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $375,382 for the partnership of Slam Dunk Racing, KM Racing, and Madaket Stables.

Touching Rainbows was fourth in the Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar last November in his final start of 2018. Earlier in the year, Touching Rainbows finished third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on dirt at Del Mar in July and third in the Green Flash Stakes on turf there in August.