Trainer Chris J. Englehart won with both of his starters at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 2, extending his winning streak to seven straight races. He is within one of what is believed to be the modern-day record for consecutive wins by a trainer in New York.
With Aqueduct closed for live racing for the next two days, the trainer will try to make it a record-tying 8-for-8 Jan. 5 when he sends out Who’s the Cowboy in race 5. The next day Englehart has entered three horses: Crafty Mark in the first, Sorority Sister in the sixth, and High Stakes Player in the eighth race.
Englehart’s streak began on Dec. 30, when he sent out Who's the Cowboy ($18) to win the first race, Smokin Artie's Gal ($3.30) to take the second, and, after Cherokee Trick was scratched from the fifth race, completed the hat trick when Budge Man ($11.20) won the seventh race at the Big A.
On New Year’s Eve, Englehart won Aqueduct’s fourth race with his only starter, Iberian Gate ($2.90). He kicked off 2011 by winning the fifth race with Run Warrior Run ($9.40).
Englehart’s hot streak continued Jan. 2 when he won the fifth race with Isn't She Grand ($3.60) and the sixth with Furhlang ($5.50), giving him seven straight winners.
According to recent records, four modern-day trainers have saddled eight consecutive winners at New York Racing Association tracks: John Parisella in 1973; Angel Penna Sr., who sent out eight straight at Belmont Park in 1982; Oscar Barrera, who went 8-for-8 from April 15-21, 1983 at Belmont Park; and Edward I. Kelly, who accomplished the feat in October 1983.
More recently, trainer John Kimmel went 7-for-7 at Saratoga Race Course in 2008.
Since the Aqueduct inner track meet began on Dec. 2, Englehart’s horses are 9-0-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $144,600.