NEWS
Rapid Redux connections leaning toward Claiming Crown
Posted: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 4:12 PM
Rapid Redux’s owner Robert Cole Jr. said he is leaning toward starting the record-setting five-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding in the $50,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse Stakes on December 3 at Fair Grounds.
The Iron Horse is restricted to horses who have started for a claiming price of $7,500 in the previous two years. Rapid Redux surpassed Zenyatta and Peppers Pride for the modern North American record for most consecutive victories on Monday night at Mountaineer Race Track, where he registered his 20th straight victory. Many of those wins have come in starter-allowance races with similar conditions as the Iron Horse.
“I think the best thing to do is go into the national spotlight and give him more attention,” Cole said. “The horse came out of [Monday’s] race in fantastic shape. The trainer [David Wells] would have to be comfortable with shipping to Louisiana. The medication rules are different from state to state. If David says the horse is ready, we are going. I looked at the nominations and wasn’t overly impressed. It’s not going to be a large field.”
For the season, Rapid Redux has won 18 races, and Cole would like to see his gelding match the seasonal win total of Citation, who won 19 races in 20 starts in 1948.
“I am just happy to be part of racing history, which goes back to George Washington. To be mentioned with some of the greatest horses of all-time, like Zenyatta and Citation, is something I can take to my grave,” Cole said, adding that he thinks the December 3 date of the Claiming Crown is reasonable. “[Monday’s] race came up a little soft, especially with all the scratches so it was kind of a breather for him. It didn’t really seem that he ran that hard.”
That said, Cole said Wells will make the decision.
“David has done a great job training the horse, there is no question about that, but we have had good luck with spotting the horse in the right races. All in all we have managed the streak very well,” Cole said. “I wouldn’t put him in a spot where we wouldn’t do well.”
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Posted by: Arizona has beens, Phoenix, AZ on November 25, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Why not an overnight stakes? Winning 19 races in a row is a nice training feat, but to do it against full fields and horses of legitimate caliber would be all the more impressive.
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Posted by: Robin, Canton, MI on November 24, 2011 at 08:09 PM
Go for it Rapid Redux. Let's make it 21 straight races. I'll be anxious to see what the outcome of the race will be. But, stay safe, Rapid Redux.
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