Rapid Redux Could Reach Another Racing Milestone Tuesday At Laurel Park
Rapid Redux Could Reach Another Racing Milestone Tuesday At Laurel Park
LAUREL, MD. 12-08-11---Racing history could be made at Laurel Park as Rapid Redux, who broke the record for consecutive wins last month at Mountaineer Park with his 20th straight score, looks to tie the all-time North American record for victories in a calendar year, when he starts in Tuesday afternoon’s 6th race, a $17,000 starter allowance.
Citation currently holds the single-season record with 19 wins in 20 starts in 1948, the year he captured the Triple Crown. Rapid Redux is a perfect 18-of-18 in 2011.
The 1-1/16 mile test, for horses who have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in 2010 or 2011, drew six other runners, including Zosogood, a winner of three straight races at Monmouth Park since mid-October. Rapid Redux will start from the rail. Post time will be approximately 2:55 p.m.
“Citation is one of the all-time greats, just to be mentioned in the same sentence is unbelievable,” owner Robert Cole said. “The Citation record has stood for more than 60 years so I would like to get a part of that and possibly break it before the end of the month. That record might be more impressive, not that the consecutive record isn’t, because how a horse can win 19 races in one calendar year is like going to another galaxy on a space ship. It is beyond imagination.”
Cole, a Baltimore County native, claimed the son of Pleasantly Perfect at Penn National for $6,250 on October 13, 2010. The win-streak began December 2, 2010 at Penn National. Since then, the gelding has won 21 of 22 races with earnings of $246,694.
Cole and trainer David Wells have sent their star to seven different tracks at distances from five-furlongs to 1-1/8 miles, using seven riders. J.D. Acosta, who has been aboard six times during the streak, has the mount.
“We are going straight to the lead,” added Cole. “He is as fit as he’s ever been and we think he’ll carry the speed without a problem.”
Rapid Redux earned his 19th straight victory at Laurel Park on October 27 to tie Zenyatta and Peppers Pride in the record book and has won three other races here during the streak.
-MJC-
