As of January 1, 2012, Rapid Redux was supposed to have used up his eligibility for the $5,000 starter allowance races. In 2011, Fifteen of his 19 races were run in that condition, which was for horses that “started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in 2010-2011”. Rapid Redux ran for the $5,000 tag on August 13, 2010, at Monmouth Park. When the year changed, the conditions for the starter allowance switch to have “started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in 2011-2012”. That switch would make him ineligible.
Apparently since tracks published a condition book towards the end of 2011 that carried into 2012, they were able to write the starter allowances for which Rapid Redux still would have eligibility in 2012. Owner Robert Cole was able to search the condition books to the benefit of Rapid Redux, “I found five starter allowance races east of the Mississippi that he is eligible to run in. It is conceivable to have one or two more starts after this one because there are already races written in condition books that accommodate his date.”
On Wednesday, January 4th, the now six year-old Rapid Redux will go for his 22nd consecutive victory in the 6th race at Laurel. Post time is 2:56 pm ET. The one turn mile starter allowance drew 10 horses but two have already scratched including the eleven year-old Delaware River, a multiple stakes winner of $702,000. Jockey JD Acosta will be riding Rapid Redux for the 6th time in past seven races.
A fast track is likely as the weather forecast for race day is for sunny skies and temperatures in the 30’s.
Here is the field:
AWESOME RHYTHM finished a strong second, a half length behind Rapid Redux in their most recent 13Dec11 mile and a sixteenth race. Before that he finished second in a similar race. His three most recent Beyer Speed Figures (BSF) are: 83, 78, and 75.
NINTH CLIENT is the second half of a John Rigaltieri trained entry. The six year-old won $65,189 in 2011 with two wins. His last three races have been in NW1 allowances showing a second and two fourth place finishes. His most recent win was on 17Aug11 at Del. BSF: 80, 78, 77.
GOLD CASING has won his last two races at Laurel for claiming tags of $7,000 and $4,750 N2Y. His come from behind running style produced 4 wins from 15 starts in 2011. BSF: 77, 76, 60.
RAPID REDUX has now won $351,919 in his career of 41 starts with finishes of 27-1-1. In the current 21 race win streak, five of the victories have been at today’s distance of one mile. BSF: 84, 83, 85, 89, 87, 85.
GRUNWALD won his most recent race at Laurel on 17Dec11 going seven furlongs in an $8,000 starter allowance. Another off the pace runner, he finished second on 8Dec11 in a mile and a sixteenth $5,000 beaten claiming race. Before that he veered in and lost his rider. BSF: 74, 64, X.
SARGE’S just came back on 2Dec11 from a five month layoff to finish fourth in $5,000 starter allowance. During the summer the five year grey gelding had two second place finishes at Del. He won three out of eight starts in 2011, for $33,570. BSF: 67, 75, 76.
WILLIAM’S PRAYER also won his last start at Laurel in a $5,000 claiming race for N2L. He sandwiched a distant seventh place between his maiden claiming $10,500 score and his most recent effort. BSF: 66, 21, 64.
WALKIN’ BOSS earned his second career victory at Laurel on 13Dec11 in a $7,500 claimer for N2L at a mile and a sixteenth. Since his maiden win he has been running in the non-winners of two lifetime condition. BSF: 57, 48, 51.
AndyScoggin in NJ 