Rapid Redux matches Citation's mark

Rapid Redux continues his record march through the low levels of American horse racing. The 5-year-old gelding won Tuesday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., for his 21st straight victory and 19th of the year. Rapid Redux extended his modern US record for consecutive victories and matched the modern US record for victories in a calendar year. The great Citation won 19 races in his Triple Crown season of 1948. Roseben, a Hall of Fame horse, also won 19 in 1905. Spotted carefully in races by trainer David Wells and owner Robert Cole during the streak, Rapid Redux collected his latest record in the sixth race at Laurel, a 1-1/16-mile starter allowance race with a purse of $17,000. In his customary running style, Rapid Redux broke from the rail post, took the early lead and dared his five challengers to catch him. Jockey J.D. Acosta had Rapid Redux ahead by three lengths in the early stretch. Awesome Rhythm closed willingly but was still a half-length back at the wire. The final time was 1 minute, 45.08 seconds. A 3-10 favorite, Rapid Redux returned $2.60 for a $2 win bet. The gelding's winning streak began on Dec. 2, 2010, at Penn National. He has specialized in starter allowance, races usually restricted to horses that have started for a designated claiming price. Wells has entered Rapid Redux at seven different tracks during the streak. Four of the wins have come at Laurel. Rapid Redux earned his 19th straight victory at Laurel on Oct. 27 to tie Zenyatta and Peppers Pride in the modern US record book. He took sole possession of that mark at Mountaineer Park on Nov. 21. Puerto Rico racing legend Camarero won 29 races in 1955 and had a 56-race winning streak from 1955-56. The Associated Press contributed to this report.