Rapid Redux hits his 15th consecutive win at Thistledown!!
If winning thrice in a row usually qualifies for a record setting then brace yourself for a horse who achieved five times more than this. Rapid Redux is the glorified horse who could hit that mark effectively.
The race that got him here was not an easy one. He had tough competition that he had to counter but he himself did not make it a piece of cake for the rest. It was an intense race which had crowds sitting on their edges.
The race turned out to be the closest between Wings On Springs, Rapid Redux and Petch. Wings On Springs took an early lead from the inside post, Petch in between and Rapid Redux was the third in lead.
Rapid was not satisfied with his ranking lead thus he took a shot in order to complete the half-mile and six furlongs, first to cross Petch and then went ahead of Wings On Springs.
Next threats to his victory were Gold Prospect and a fast closing in, Hatch. However Rapid did not let these remain to be obstacles for long.
It became 15th consecutive win with jockey Cloninger holding his reigns.
He is the seventh in line of those jockeys with whom Rapid has been winning and shooting through the wire.
The win spell included victories at Thistledown, Charles Town Races, Mountaineer Race Track, Parx Racing, Laurel Park and Penn National Race Course.
To conclude what and how it needs to be done as far as the 5-year Chestnut colt’s performance is concerned, Cloninger has been reported to have reviewed the matches in order to analyse what really gets the horse going.
He says that initially Rapid went quite slow and sluggish but gradually bucked up and that also at an almost unbelievable speed.
His performance was nothing less than a miracle especially considering the fact that he had recently been shipped and ended up losing 150 pounds which meant giving him time off for resting and putting back the weight. It led to a break of nearly 35 days
in which the horse did not at all.
Hence there have certainly been events where he was in hid top form but after all this race was an exception.
Throughout his last 14 races he has been running in the front and that also quite fast. Earlier he had come from behind or at least stayed second before leading and winning.
His straight 16th is expected either at Maryland State Fair at Timonium meet or Laurel Park. Only the next races will tell if he will still stay consistent or may break away from the so popular routine.
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