Charles Town: Rapid Redux bids for 17th straight victory

Rapid Redux continues his quest towards North American Thoroughbred racing’s all-time record for consecutive victories when he bids for his 17th straight in a $5,000 starter allowance on Friday night’s card at Charles Town.

He is part of a eight-horse field scheduled to go 1 1/16 miles in the eighth race, worth $20,000. Ten were entered, but Historically, Working Man Blues, and Derwins Prospector were scratched Friday morning. Smiling Jordan drew in off the also-eligible list.

Rapid Redux’s 16 straight wins, a streak which began in last December at Penn National, ties him with Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams, and Mister Frisky, three behind the co-record-holders, the superstar mare Zenyatta and New Mexico-bred mare Pepper’s Pride.

During his streak, the 5-year-old Rapid Redux has raced at seven different tracks and been ridden by six different jockeys in races contested at six different distances ranging from five furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s got a lot of speed, he’s bred to go long, and we’ve kept him fit,” said trainer David Wells. “Knock on wood, hopefully we keep him sound too.

“We’ve picked our spots pretty carefully with him, but this race on Friday night is by far the toughest test he’s going to have faced.”