Rapid Redux extends winning streak to 17

Starter allowance ace Rapid Redux, shown at Thistledown in August, is edging closer to the modern North American record of 19 wins in a row (J.J. Zamaiko Photo) Robert L. Cole Jr.’s RAPID REDUX (Pleasantly Perfect) racked up his 17th straight win in Friday night’s 8TH race at Charles Town. Going wire to wire in the 1 1/16-mile starter allowance, the 3-5 favorite never gave his enthusiasts an anxious moment. Now Rapid Redux needs just two more wins to reach the magic number of 19 in a row, which would tie the historic streaks of Horse of the Year Zenyatta and New Mexico-bred queen Peppers Pride. The David Wells charge was prompted by Bigum (Ole’) through splits of :24 1/5 and :48 on the fast track, but appeared to be traveling comfortably all the while for J.D. Acosta. Rapid Redux opened up a two-length margin when reaching six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and the race was virtually over. With the stretch run looking like a formality, the chestnut gelding kept on doggedly to score by 2 3/4 lengths from the late-running Smiling Jordan (Accelerator). It was another eight lengths back to Fudge the Books (Dance to Destiny) in third. Bigum faded to fourth in the eight-horse field.

Rapid Redux, who stopped the teletimer in 1:45 1/5, paid $3.20, $2.20
and $2.20. The five-year-old sports a career mark of 37-23-1-1,
$306,144.

Since being claimed by his current connections for $6,250 at Penn National
last October, Rapid Redux has captured 18 of 19 starts at a variety of venues
around the Mid-Atlantic region. His only loss in that time frame came in his
second outing for the Wells barn, when he backed up to eighth in a starter
allowance in November, also at Penn National. Wells revealed that Rapid Redux
displaced his palate that day, and a minor throat operation corrected the
problem.

Rapid Redux has a nicer pedigree than most denizens of starter allowance
races. Bred by Fortress Pacific Equine in Kentucky, he is a half-brother to
stakes winner Be Like Mike and the Grade 3-placed Sacred Journey, both by
Unbridled’s Song. His dam, Thiscatsforcaryl (Storm Cat), is a full sister to
stakes victress Cat Affair, and she hails from the family of Australian Oaks
(Aus-G1) runner-up French Lady (NZ) (Entrepreneur) and Santa Ana H. (G1) heroine
Annual Reunion (Cresta Rider). His fourth dam, the winning Love of Learning
(Hail to Reason), is a full sister to the influential sire Halo and a
half-sister to Hall of Famer Tosmah (Tim Tam).

Sold for $85,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Rapid Redux
began his career with trainer Kelly Breen. He broke his maiden in his second
try, and managed to finish a distant third in the 2008 Tyro S. But after several
bad defeats, he was dropped into claiming company, where he descended the ladder
until being scooped up by Cole and Wells.