Laurel: Rapid Redux's appearance on opening-day card uncertain

January 4, 2012

A minor cut on the right front foot of Rapid Redux may prevent the popular gelding from making his scheduled appearance on Wednesday's opening-day card at Laurel Park.Trainer David Wells said on Tuesday that Rapid Redux grabbed a quarter several days ago, casting doubt whether the horse will make the trip from his base at Penn National Race Course in central Pennsylvania to Maryland for Wednesday's sixth race, a one-mile starter allowance. Rapid Redux, bidding for his 22nd consecutive victory, is listed as the track's 3-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight.There is a little cut on his right front foot, Wells said. We are a little bit concerned about tomorrow. It is kind of up in the air. We are working as hard as we can to get it healed up for where it isnt tender. It does bother him to push on it. It is a little spot, the size of a thumbnail. I had the blacksmith take off his glue-on shoes because we thought that was aggravating but it is all coming from where he grabbed himself.[MORE: Watch Rapid Redux's past replays and see Wednesday's card live | Barbara Livingston photos]"I hope we can have this little cut to where it does not bother him," Wells added. "We surely dont want to get beat and I want to do what is best by the horse. Wells and owner Robert Cole were prepared to end Rapid Reduxs racing career when the calendar turned to 2012 because the now 6-year-old gelding would no longer be eligible for the $5,000 starter races that he dominated at racetracks throughout the mid-Atlantic region and did not want to risk losing him in a claiming race.Laurels condition book, however, included a starter allowance on the first day of the 2012 48-day winter meet that was open to horses who ran for a $5,000 claiming price or less in 2010 or 2011. So Rapid Redux would get at least one more chance to extend a winning streak that began Dec. 2, 2010.Rapid Redux closed out his 2011 campaign with a half-length win going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel on Dec. 13 to become the first United States-based horse since Citation in 1948 to win 19 races in one season.I didnt want to race him him anymore, but he came out of that last race sound, so we will race him one or two more times and then retire him, Wells said.Wells and Cole would like to see Rapid Redux wind up at a place where his presence can help enhance the visibility of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Among the possibilities are CANTER South Carolina, Old Friends, and the Kentucky Horse Park.Although it is unlikely Rapid Redux will garner enough support for an Eclipse Award, he is one of four finalists, along with Goldikova, Havre de Grace, and Uncle Mo, for the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, a popularity contest created by Secretariats owner, Penny Chenery. The winner will be announced Jan. 15 at Santa Anita.Among Rapid Reduxs seven rivals on Wednesday, the most dangerous are the John Rigatierri-trained coupled entry of Awesome Rhythm and Ninth Client. Awesome Rhythm was the close runner-up to Rapid Redux three weeks ago. Ninth Client most recently finished second in a first-level allowance.Laurel will race Wednesday through Saturday during its winter meet, which concludes March 24. First post time is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. The stakes schedule has not been finalized.