Rapid Redux runs streak to 22, honored with Eclipse Award

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01/04/2012 - Laurel, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Horse of the Year candidate Rapid Redux successfully extended his unbeaten streak to 22 with a front-running victory Wednesday at Laurel Park. Earlier in the day it was announced that the six- year-old gelding is to be honored with a Special Eclipse Award.

Rapid Redux, owned by Robert Cole, posted his first win of 2012 and record 22nd consecutive victory. Trained by David Wells, the gelding was ridden by J.D. Acosta in a $17,000 one-mile starter allowance versus four challengers after three horses were scratched.

"Laurel lays out the red carpet every time and it is great to go there," Wells said. His charge covered the mile in 1:38.24 on a fast track to win by three-quarters of a length.

Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, Rapid Redux returned $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. Runner-up Awesome Rhythm paid $2.40 and $2.10, and Gold Casing paid $2.20 to show. Sarge's and Grunwald completed the order of finish.

Rapid Redux won as the 3-10 favorite on December 13 for his 19th win in 2011, matching the modern mark for a single year held by Citation and early 20th- century horse Roseben. Citation equaled Roseben's record in 1948, the same year he won the Triple Crown.

The gelding began the win streak on December 2, 2010 at Penn National. He broke the record for consecutive wins last November at Mountaineer Park with his 20th straight victory.

Wednesday's win was worth $9,690 to run Rapid Redux's career total to $361,609 with 28 wins in 42 starts. Since being claimed by Cole in October, 2010 at Penn National, the gelding has won 23 of 24 races for $266,074.

It was revealed a few hours earlier that Rapid Redux will receive the Special Eclipse Award. This honor is for extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of thoroughbred racing.

"It's a top award in this sport and a dream come true," said Cole. "Rapid Redux has shown the greatest in durability and consistency. He hasn't thrown in a bad race. To win like this over a 13-month period is nearly impossible. He's Maryland home-grown running in Maryland. We wanted him to stay close to home as he relates so well to the average fan. It's not like going to the sales and paying a million dollars. He's a blue-collar horse."

The 41st Annual Eclipse Awards will be held at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, CA on Monday, January 16.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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