Horse racing isn’t supposed to be this easy.
You don’t claim a horse for the first time and then have it win back to back stakes races unless you’re talking six-digit claims. And even then…
But that’s what Sunil Trehun has done.
Along with trainer Craig Smith and Jay and Carrie Profeit’s Lucky Diamonds Racing Stable, Trehun claimed Rainbow’s Pride for $20,000 on March 13 at Tampa Bay.
It was the first time Trehun had ever claimed or bought a thoroughbred.
Now, Rainbow’s Pride goes into Saturday’s $75,000 Century Mile Handicap as the likely favourite after back to back stakes victories.
“There are no words to express what it feels like,” said Edmonton’s Trehun, whose daughter, Ceana, is a groom for Smith and the main reason he finally decided to get into the sport.
“I was involved with show jumpers, polo and dressage but never thoroughbreds.
“Ceana also had her own horses and competed in show jumping and dressage back in India where we are from.
“It’s been an incredible game so far. I am astonished. I didn’t know what to expect. But it wasn’t this,” said Trehun after Rainbow’s Pride’s victories in the $50,000 May 30 Journal Handicap and then the June 20 $50,000 Spangled Jimmy - both at Century Mile.
But maybe Trehun shouldn’t be shocked. The race Rainbow’s Pride was claimed out of was won by Souper Tuscan, who came back to win the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint at Texas’ Lone Star.
Rainbow’s Pride won the Journal by the slimmest of margins: a head bob over Gotme Good.
“I’ve watched the replay of that race a hundred times; I never thought he won,” said Smith.
The Spangled Jimmy was much more decisive - a length and a quarter win over Lord of Battle.
That win was exactly the way Smith had drawn up and the way jockey Richard Balgobin rode to perfection.
“I told Richard to leave out of there and if Lord of Battle wanted the lead to let him go and not get into a speed duel,” said Smith.
Balgobin did precisely that letting Lord of Battle open a two-length lead and then chasing him down in the stretch to win going away.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to win two stakes races. I’m on the top of the world,” said Trehun.
Rainbow’s Pride was 4-1 in The Journal. Somehow he was 7-1 in the Spangled Jimmy.
“I don’t bet but I found that surprising too,” said Trehun. “I thought there must be something wrong.”
Smith, who comes from a racing family, doesn’t bet either but he was surprised at the odds too.
“That was weird,” said Smith, who has improved on many horses he has claimed or taken over training. One in particular was Varatti, who he bought for $17,000 at a Kenneland, Kentucky Horses of Racing Age sale.
Varatti promptly went out and won the Don Getty and The Speed to Spare in 2024.
“That was all Craig,” said Adrian Munro, Smith’s major client. “I told him to keep his hands in his pocket but he couldn’t resist.”
Good thing. As well as the two stakes, Varatti also won three allowance races and was an easy choice for Aged Horse of the Year in Alberta.
Varatti, strange as it sounds is still running and winning. In, of all places, the Philippines.
Saturday’s Century Mile is at a mile and 70 yards.
“He’s never run farther than seven furlongs before but the way he’s run I believe he will.
“We haven’t got to the bottom of him yet.
“He can really go fast or he can sit off the pace.
It isn’t just Rainbow’s Pride either. Smith claimed two other horses for Trehun and himself in Tampa: American Farmer and Rip Riding Away. They both won races after they were claimed.
American Farmer was a $5,000 claim out of a winning races on March 15. After three seconds he won a starter allowance on June 19. Ironically, Rip Riding Away - claimed for $8,000 - also won on June 19 in another starter allowance race at Century Mile. Four wide, Rip Riding Away still won by a length and three quarters.
“Sunil has sure had a good go,” said Smith, who was Alberta’s leading trainer in both 2023 and 2024. “Three claims. Three winners. Two stakes.”
But Rainbow’s Pride is the story.
“He’s been a home run for sure.
“He looked like a race horse on paper,” said Smith. “He’s ultra consistent.
“Some of his best races have been when he’s come from behind. But he won both stakes when he was forwardly placed. It doesn’t seem to matter.”
Sixteen horses have nominated to the Century Mile including the sensational mare, Avana, who is cross entered in the R.K. ‘Red’ Smith Handicap, which only drew four mares including two-time Horse of the Year, Big Hug.
At ‘press’ time, Avana’s trainer Barb Heads, hadn’t decided which race she will run in.
If she runs in the Century Mile, Avana will ‘only’ carry 124 pounds. If she elects to run in the Red Smith she will be asked to tote a taxing 129 pounds.
Either race would be fan favourites and great stories. Go against the boys or renew acquaintances with Big Hug.
Bring them on.
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Inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.
Author: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty.