Rapid Redux runs streak to 22, honored with Eclipse Award

Horseracing Betting Lines

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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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.