Colorado coach Gary Smith had labeled New York “beatable” coming into yesterday’s game, saying going to Red Bull Arena was nothing like braving Old Trafford. Well, the Red Bulls may not be Manchester United, but they proved more than good enough to emasculate the Rapids 3-1 today.

They rebounded from last week’s 1-0 loss at defending champ Real Salt Lake — played sans four starters — with goals from French star Thierry Henry, rookie Tim Ream and surging Dane Richards in a comprehensive rout before 19,014.

Playing with their optimal Starting XI for only the fourth time this season — with the midseason additions of Henry and Rafa Marquez — they’ve gone 3-1 and outscored their opponents 9-3. This is the lineup they’ll try to win their first MLS Cup with, and yesterday it had the look of a legitimate contender.

In the 17th minute Henry played a slick give-and-go with MF Joel Lindpere, taking a cheeky backheel from the Estonian and putting it past GK Matt Pickens. The Frenchman ran to the corner and paid tribute to the 9/11 victims by laying his black armband on the ground and pointing to the sky after scoring.

They doubled the lead in the 32nd when rookie Tony Tchani volleyed Marquez’ free kick back across the goal mouth, and Man of the Match Ream ran onto it to volley it home.

Speedy Colorado striker Omar Cummings pulled a goal back on a counter, a 30-plus-yard golazo off the crossbar. But Richards answered his Jamaican countryman in the 58th minute, when he cut the ball past a sliding defender in the box and scored for the final margin.

Marquez suffered a yellow card foul by Wells Thompson in the 70th and hobbled off two minutes later with an ankle injury, but that was about the only negative in a confidence-buoying performance halfway through a grueling four-game gantlet.

Next up they play at Dallas, on an MLS-high 13-game unbeaten streak; then they travel to L.A. to face last year’s other finalist. They’re 0-4 vs. MLS’ top three teams — L.A., Columbus and Real Salt Lake — and 12-4-4 vs. everybody else.