Laurel: Rapid Redux runs for another record

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

Rapid Redux would tie the U.S. record for most victories in a calendar year with a win at Laurel on Tuesday.

Three weeks after breaking one modern-day United States record, the remarkable 5-year-old gelding Rapid Redux is targeting another in Tuesday’s sixth race at Laurel Park.

As a follow-up to his 20th consecutive win last month at Mountaineer Racetrack, Rapid Redux will attempt to tie the modern-day U.S. record for victories in a calendar year, currently shared by Triple Crown winner Citation (1948) and Hall of Famer Roseben (1905) at 19.

The North American record is owned by Puerto Rico-based Camarero, who won 29 straight races in 1955 and another 19 a year earlier during a 56-race win streak.

Rapid Redux, 18 for 18 this season, will break from the rail under J.D. Acosta while facing six rivals in a 1 1/16-mile starter allowance for horses who have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less the past two seasons.

[LIVE VIDEO: Watch Rapid Redux run for the record and join the DRF chat]

“It is typical about what we have been running against,” said owner Robert Cole. “We have to go out and win one more. It is not going to last forever. We just hope Tuesday isn’t our day to get beat. I know it can happen at any time.”

The biggest threat to Rapid Redux appears to be deep closer No Brakes, a 6-year-old who has won 6 of 15 starts this season and is taking a sharp class drop following back-to-back good efforts against second-level optional $25,000 claiming company. In his last appearance in the starter allowance ranks, No Brakes romped by 8 1/2 lengths at Charles Town, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure that resembles the consistent numbers Rapid Redux has posted in his last five starts (83-85-89-87-85).

There is also speed to challenge Rapid Redux in the form of Awesome Rhythm, a two-time winner against starter allowance foes since July; Zosogood, a winner of three straight claiming races at Monmouth Park; and First Nite, a wire-to-wire 7 1/2-length winner last time for a $5,000 tag at Laurel.

“We have to go with the game plan, which is going to the lead,” said Acosta, who has been aboard six times during the streak.

Trainer David Wells claimed Rapid Redux on behalf of Cole at Penn National for $6,250 on Oct. 13, 2010. The win streak began Dec. 2, 2010 at Penn National. Since then, Rapid Redux has won 21 of 22 races with earnings of $246,694.

Cole and Wells have sent their star to seven different tracks at distances from five furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, using seven riders.