Nearly five years after her world-champion full sister Somwherovrarainbow won her first career start, Rainbow Room debuted with an eye-catching victory on Friday night (June 23) in the first two-year-old race of the season at The Meadowlands.
Rainbow Room, by Somebeachsomewhere out of Rainbow Blue, had been the talk of the morning after a pair of impressive Meadowlands baby race victories earlier this month.
She backed up the hype in her first appearance under the lights in a $10,000 maiden event.
David Miller put the 1-9 favourite on the front end and led the field through fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.3. That's when All On Top Hanover ripped off her cover and pulled nearly even to Rainbow Room midway down the stretch. Rainbow Room found another gear and held off the Erv Miller trainee to stop the teletimer in 1:52.4 to win by a length. Despite the loss, All On Top Hanover (Betterthancheddar-Allamerican Apex) deserves watch moving forward as she was charted with a last quarter mile in :25.3.
Rainbow Room was purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned in partnership by Crawford Farms Racing, Val D'Or Farms, and Ted Gewertz. She is trained by Joe Holloway.
The big night for Crawford Farms continued in the $17,500 trotting feature when their Cufflink Hanover and driver Corey Callahan converted a pocket trip to victory in 1:51.1 over pacesetter In Secret. Trained by John Butenschoen, Cufflink Hanover had most recently finished third behind Triple Crown winner Marion Marauder in a division of the Graduate Series at Tioga Downs.
Fellow Graduate leg winner Trolley also tuned up for the $250,000 Graduate Final on July 8 with a 1:51.4 win in a $13,000 conditioned trot in rein to Marcus Miller. The Erv Miller trainee had equalled the all-time track record at Tioga Downs of 1:52.1 in his previous Graduate victory 12 days ago.
Corey Callahan and Tyler Buter each posted driving doubles.
Total handle on the 10-race card was $1,836,992. Racing resumes Saturday night. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)