The extraordinarily consistent Rapid Redux took his tally of consecutive victories to 22 on January 4 when making all to win over a mile at Laurel Park. Just hours earlier it had been announced by the triumvirate of National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters that he is to receive a special Eclipse Award to honour his outstanding achievement.
The record-breaking Kentucky-bred gelding won all 19 of his starts in 2011, his string of back-to-back wins taking him past the modern-day records of Zenyatta and Peppers Pride, each of whom won 19 consecutive races. One more victory will see him equal the American record of consecutive wins set by Leviathan in 1801.
Now six, Rapid Redux, who is owned by Robert Cole Jr and trained in Maryland by David Wells, has won 28 of his 42 starts and $361,609 in prize-money. His victories have come at seven different courses and at distances ranging from five to nine furlongs.
A first-crop son of the Dubai World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect, he is out of the Storm Cat mare Thiscatsforcaryl and was bred by Fortress Pacific Equine LLC. He was originally purchased for $85,000 as a yearling at Keeneland’s September Sale in 2007.
Cole, who claimed him on the racetrack for just $6,250 in October 2010, said: “Rapid Redux has shown the greatest in durability and consistency. He hasn’t thrown in a bad race. To win like this over a 13-month period is nearly impossible. He’s Maryland home-grown running in Maryland. We wanted him to stay close to home as he relates so well to the average fan. It’s not like going to the sales and paying a million dollars. He’s a blue-collar horse.”
Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA, added: “The achievements of Rapid Redux in 2011 were remarkable. Winning 21 consecutive races, including 19 of them in a single year, is something we won’t soon again see. We congratulate Robert Cole, trainer David Wells and the jockeys who rode Rapid Redux for all they did to help Rapid Redux earn this Special Award.”
