Shameless plug..... Rapid Redux is out of 1/2 sister to our Chief's Crown mare, Top of the Noggin, so we have tracked his career from day one - vested interest in all family members you know! Would love to see him break Lady Z's and Pepper's Pride 19 straight / exhaust his starter allowance conditions and then just rock and roll up the ladder. Go baby Go! Your "auntie" and "cousin" are on the farm cheering you on!
There are videos of RR posted on You Tube now and one at andyscoggin.blogspot.com
I also heard an interview with the connections of RR and they said that at this level of racing that there are few opportunities to be in the limelight. So they were going to enjoy this for as long as they can.
@annmatt, no offense, but it appears to me that this horse's connections only concern is keeping a winning streak alive? If this horse is good enough to have won 16 straight races, then why in the world is he still running in starter allowance races? You'd think a trainer that had a horse talented enough to win 16 straight races would be aiming for something a little bigger than allowance company? Maybe a listed or G3 stakes, perhaps? JMO.
Brian, I'm still in my acute learning phase for this sport....stuffing my brain with as much info as I can. Love this horse, yes, but, it's also a good learning exercise for me. I looked over all 16 of RR's charts, and recognize the truth of your comments. However, I noticed that in many instances he is often "geared down" at the end of the race, suggesting to me anyway that the earlier fast fractions, if he had had any real competition, would have led to finals being closer to stakes quality. April 25, he was 1 sec. off the track record (set in 1987), “cleared before going a furlong,” and “under mild urging controlled the pace.” His being a gelding means he has no other value than to race. Yes, they are "taking full advantage", but it seems they could fly just as fast and win in higher quality races and make a lot more money with him. Some out-takes from the charts: “eagerly pulled away under hand pressure,” “geared down through the final sixteenth,” “set a leisurely pace,” “drew off from upper stretch and won under a stranglehold coming to finish line,” “held sway under steady hand urging final seventy yards.” As an aside, other than coming out of the starting gate, it looks to me like this horse has good prospects to stay healthy, as no other horse ever gets close enough to pose a threat!! He might as well be running by himself! He never seems to run out of gas, whether 6f or 1 1/8 mi. He seems to like his job, and his “works” consist of racing every 2-3 weeks! He is truly a “blue collar” horse who I would wish could be elevated to a little higher competition. :-)
Ann, I love your passion in following this horse, and he deserves big props for this amazing streak. Frankly, he is a very difficult horse to categorize, as he is eligible for all these conditioned allowance races. He's facing horses that are beneath him and he is taking full advantage. Having said that I think he could likely compete in smaller stakes races, like a $75,000 event at a 2nd tier track. As far as graded stakes racing, I am going to take the "I won't believe it until I see it" stance. By the way, comparing times from different tracks on different days really tells us very little, if anything at all.
Rapid Redux does it again!!! 16 for 16!!! Ok, I have been able to watch replays at TwinSpires of Rapid Redux’ last 7 or 8 races. This is where my knowledge is weak (not the ONLY area, LOL). How do the races this horse has run differ from some graded stakes races? His fractions are as good or better than some of the graded stakes I've been watching. He runs on the lead, and in the stretch, when he looks like he's going to drop back, when the challenging horse draws alongside, he just guns his jets and stays in front, usually finishing 2 or more lengths in front! I mean, why can't this horse rise in class? His pedigree looks outstanding, he evidently had a breathing problem and had some corrective throat surgery. Here are fractions for RR in a race he ran in April and the recent Woodward, leaving out for the moment track conditions: RR: 4/25/11 at PEN, 1 1/8 mi: 23.75, 47.73, 1:11.92, 1:37.52, and 150.9 - 9/3 Woodward: at SAR, 1 1/8 mi: 23.93, 48.09, 1:11.95, 1:36.29, and 149.18. If Ask The Moon can rise out of the doldrums to graded stakes territory, would it be possible for this horse?
I will see what I can find, Ann!
Brian, PLEASE find us some video so we can see this horse run! Those who haven't seen this horse's pedigree, check it out! Just incredible! New owners, a little throat surgery, and some tlc and this horse has been racing and winning ever since! I hope he eventually gets to move up in class. He is bound to have some better races in him!
The bull ring of Timonium is a whole different track. Good Luck RR!! Love it!