Trainer Chris Englehart fell one victory short of tying the modern-day record
for consecutive wins on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit when
Who’s the Cowboy (Intensity) finished second in Wednesday’s 5TH race at
Aqueduct.
Who’s the Cowboy, a former multiple stakes winner who started Englehart’s
streak when he captured the 1ST race on December 30, was favored at even money
Wednesday and raced off the pace in fifth around the far turn. The nine-year-old
gelding made up ground in the stretch, but could not reel in 2-1 second choice
Poppa’s Pick (Formal Dinner), who held on to win by one length.
“I thought it was a great effort,” Englehart said of Who’s the Cowboy’s
performance when reached by telephone. “He just got outrun, that’s all. He’s
just a good, professional horse. You have to respect him, and we’ll do right by
him and give him a little time off now.”
In addition to Who’s the Cowboy’s victory last week, Englehart’s winning
streak included triumphs by Smokin’ Arties Gal (Smokin Mel) and Budge Man
(Fusaichi Pegasus) on December 30, success by Iberian Gate (Chapel Royal) on New
Year’s Eve, a win by Run Warrior Run (Desert Warrior) on New Year’s Day, and
successive scores by Isn’t She Grand (Grand Reward) and Fuhrlang (Langfuhr) on
January 2.
“I’m not a very religious person, but my mother-in-law Mary (Reed) passed
away a few days ago and she was a religious person,” Englehart said. “She had a
stroke and went to the hospital Tuesday, the day before the winning streak
began. I went back to the hospital later, and she was unconscious. She passed
away on Sunday. She was probably saying a prayer for the horses. These wins are
a credit to her, in a strange way.”
According to recent records, four modern-day trainers have saddled eight
consecutive winners at NYRA tracks: John Parisella in 1973; Angel Penna Sr., who
sent out eight straight at Belmont Park in 1982; Oscar Barrera, who went
eight-for-eight from April 15-21, 1983, at Belmont; and Edward I. Kelly, who
accomplished the feat in October, 1983.
More recently, trainer John Kimmel went seven-for-seven at Saratoga Race
Course in 2008.
Englehart will attempt to start a new streak at Aqueduct on Thursday when he
sends out Crafty Mark (Crafty Prospector) in the 1ST race, Sorority Sister
(Include) in the 6TH race and High Stakes Player (A.P. Indy) in the 8TH race.