Rainbow Heir New Jersey-Bred of the Year

Image: 
Description: 

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey has named New Farm homebred Rainbow Heir, a winner of two stakes races last year, the New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for 2014. Rainbow Heir also was named champion New Jersey-bred handicap horse and champion sprinter.

Rainbow Heir, the New Jersey-bred champion 3-year-old of 2013, had another successful campaign as a 4-year-old with three wins from five starts and earnings of $147,750. He won the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths in impressive fashion over a veteran group of stakes horses. Rainbow Heir's next start was a dominating score in the New Jersey Breeder's Handicap by 12 1/2 lengths.  

Trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. the son of Wildcat Heir   is out of the Prospectors Gamble mare Rainbow Pride and has career earnings of $321,210.

In other awards:

Ed Broome's Posse Dreamin was honored as champion 2-year-old after winning two of his six starts including the $60,000 Jersey Juvenile Stakes. The son of Posse  —Don't Stop Dreamin, by West Acre was an impressive winner in the Jersey Juvenile against fellow New Jersey-breds, winning by two lengths in the annual showcase for state-bred 2-year-old runners. Trained by his owner, Posse Dreaming finished 2014 with earnings of $91,750.

Exit Stage Left, the New Jersey-bred champion 2-year-old male of 2013, was named champion 3-year-old male after winning the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The son of Noonmark  —Hana J, by Peaks and Valleys was bred by Bright View Farm, Inc. Exit Stage Left is owned by Mark DeDomenico LLC and Jerry Hollendorfer and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. He has career earnings of $135,350.

Richard Malouf and Ed Broome's homebred More Than A Party is the champion 3-year-old filly after winning four of her seven starts in 2014. The daughter of More Than Ready  —Party to Party, by Jules started her year with a maiden special weight victory at Gulfstream Park on January 30 and won her next start by 8 3/4 lengths against New Jersey-breds. She finished the year with a 6 length victory Dec. 18 at Gulfstream. Trained by Broome, More Than A Party earned $120,640 in 2014.

Geeky Gorgeous, the 2013 New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year, had another successful year in 2014 winning three stake races and was named champion handicap mare. Geeky Gorgeous won the Regret Stakes for the second consecutive year. The daughter of Devil His Due out of the Pure Prize mare Thatholeinmypocket defeated New Jersey-bred fillies and mares in the Eleven North Handicap before traveling to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to win the $100,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes. Geeky Gorgeous was bred by Joe-Dan Farm and is owned and trained by Daniel J. Lopez. The 11-time winner finished 2014 with career earnings of $525,644.

Kasey Two Racing LLC's Silent Appeal was honored as champion turf runner after his impressive victory in the Dan Horn Handicap at Monmouth Park. The son of Hook and Ladder is the second 2014 New Jersey-bred champion out of the Peaks and Valleys mare Hana J., who is also the dam of Exit Stage Left.

Silent Appeal won three of 10 starts and finished on the board in three other races with 2014 earnings of $94,320. Silent Appeal was bred by Bright View Farm and is trained by Claudio Gonzalez.

Hana J is Broodmare of the Year for 2014.  Bright View Farm bred and owns the 13 year-old mare by Peaks and Valleys-Judaire, by Explodent. Hana J has produced two blacktype winners from five starters, Exit Stage Left and Silent Appeal.

Hana J was the last foal produced out of the Bright View Farm homebred Judaire. Judaire was a successful New Jersey-bred runner who won five stake races, two on turf and three on dirt, with career earnings of $186,798. 

Defrere is the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey's Stallion of the Year for the seventh consecutive year. A full brother to Eclipse Award winner and successful sire Dehere, Defrere (Deputy Minister-Sister Dot, by Secretariat) has sired 42 stakes horses in his career, with lifetime progeny earnings in excess of $28.4 million. In 2014, Defrere had total progeny earnings of $972,524.  

The 23-year-old horse was retired at the end of the 2014 breeding season.