Englehart's win streak ends at seven

Trainer Chris Englehart fell one victory short of tying the modern-day record

for consecutive wins on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit when

Who's the Cowboy (Intensity) finished second in Wednesday's 5TH race at

Aqueduct.

Who's the Cowboy, a former multiple stakes winner who started Englehart's

streak when he captured the 1ST race on December 30, was favored at even money

Wednesday and raced off the pace in fifth around the far turn. The nine-year-old

gelding made up ground in the stretch, but could not reel in 2-1 second choice

Poppa's Pick (Formal Dinner), who held on to win by one length.

"I thought it was a great effort," Englehart said of Who's the Cowboy's

performance when reached by telephone. "He just got outrun, that's all. He's

just a good, professional horse. You have to respect him, and we'll do right by

him and give him a little time off now."

In addition to Who's the Cowboy's victory last week, Englehart's winning

streak included triumphs by Smokin' Arties Gal (Smokin Mel) and Budge Man

(Fusaichi Pegasus) on December 30, success by Iberian Gate (Chapel Royal) on New

Year's Eve, a win by Run Warrior Run (Desert Warrior) on New Year's Day, and

successive scores by Isn't She Grand (Grand Reward) and Fuhrlang (Langfuhr) on

January 2.

"I'm not a very religious person, but my mother-in-law Mary (Reed) passed

away a few days ago and she was a religious person," Englehart said. "She had a

stroke and went to the hospital Tuesday, the day before the winning streak

began. I went back to the hospital later, and she was unconscious. She passed

away on Sunday. She was probably saying a prayer for the horses. These wins are

a credit to her, in a strange way."

According to recent records, four modern-day trainers have saddled eight

consecutive winners at NYRA tracks: John Parisella in 1973; Angel Penna Sr., who

sent out eight straight at Belmont Park in 1982; Oscar Barrera, who went

eight-for-eight from April 15-21, 1983, at Belmont; and Edward I. Kelly, who

accomplished the feat in October, 1983.

More recently, trainer John Kimmel went seven-for-seven at Saratoga Race

Course in 2008.

Englehart will attempt to start a new streak at Aqueduct on Thursday when he

sends out Crafty Mark (Crafty Prospector) in the 1ST race, Sorority Sister

(Include) in the 6TH race and High Stakes Player (A.P. Indy) in the 8TH race.