Rainbow Stakes Recap 2026
Compiled by Robert Yates
Contact: Chris Ho, Vice President of Marketing, cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Photo Credit: Coady Media
SEVENTIES MUSIC - Rainbow Stakes - 53rd Running
For Immediate Release
Oaklawn Stakes Race Recap - $150,000 Rainbow Stakes
His only lead was for a split second, but it came at the right time.
Seventies Music unleashed a furious rally in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes for accredited Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds Saturday at Oaklawn.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Seventies Music finished a nose in front of Instamania, who appeared headed to victory after opening a clear lead in the final furlong of the six-furlong race. It was another four lengths farther back to 2-1 favorite Strollsmischief, who was followed, in order, by Sioux Empire, Extract’s Arrow, Arco Thunder, Cattle Baron and Lil Trick. Sir Henry Oliver was scratched.
Instamania (on the inside) and Strollsmischief turned into the stretch together after a half-mile in :46.06 over a sloppy, sealed surface. Instamania began to inch away from Strollsmischief in midstretch, with Seventies Music 5 ½ lengths behind in third. Seventies Music began closing ground rapidly on the inside and nailed Instamania at the wire. The winning time was 1:11.28.
Seventies Music, the 2-1 second choice, paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.40. Instamania paid $3.40 and $2.40. Strollsmischief paid $2.20.
Bejarano rode Seventies Music for breeder/owner/trainer Randy Morse. Seventies Music is a gelded son of top Arkansas stallion Street Strategy.
The Rainbow was the second victory in four lifetime starts for Seventies Music, raising his career earnings to $165,750. Morse wheeled back Seventies Music in seven days after a maiden victory in state-bred company.
Saturday’s estimated attendance was 8,000. Total mutuel handle was $6,466,332.
There is no racing Sunday at Oaklawn in observance of Easter. Racing resumes Thursday at 12:45 p.m. CDT.
Rainbow Quotes
Winning Jockey Rafael Bejarano (Seventies Music): “He’s not too quick from the gate. He always does that because he’s so big. He barely fits in the gate. But he’s been a nice, talented horse since the first time I rode him. He warms up by himself. He’s very professional. He likes to come from behind. When I found a position at the half-mile pole, I knew I was farther back than the last time he ran. I knew he was going to come running. I didn’t expect the 4 (Instamania) to keep going. It looked like he was going to be home free in the stretch, but my horse made a run and was flying at the end. I thought it was going to be really tight (at the finish). My horse put his head down crossing the wire.”
Winning Breeder/Owner/Trainer Randy Mores (Seventies Music): “I thought he had no chance. I was at the sixteenth pole and he was still beat seven lengths there. I said: ‘There’s no way he can get up.’ He wants to go two turns. He’s just a big, long-jumping colt. He should get better and better.”
