Rapid Redux fighting foot injury in bid for 22

Rapid Redux, who has not lost a race since Nov.18, 2010, and is looking to extend his record to 22 consecutive wins, has been established as the 3-5 morning-line favorite by Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Frank Carulli in today’s sixth race, a $17,000 starter allowance, on opening day of the racing season at Laurel Park. However, trainer David Wells revealed Tuesday afternoon that his star “grabbed a quarter” in his right front foot a few days ago. “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.” Rapid Redux broke the record for consecutive wins in November with his 20th straight. The now 6-year-old won 19 of 19 races in 2011. RAVENS: Running back Ray Rice was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 24-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. SOCCER: The Baltimore Bohemians of the United Soccer Leagues announced today that Baltimore native Brandon Quaranta (UMBC) has joined the staff as assistant coach to head coach Steve Nichols. With the Baltimore Bays youth club, Quaranta coached his under-15 boys squad to bring the 2010 national championship back to Baltimore. That year, his U-13 boys squad won the Region I championship. Quaranta also was an assistant coach with U.S. club academy teams in the U-16 and U-18 age groups. In addition, Quaranta is a board member with the Bays, overseeing the instruction of coaches and players on their preacademy teams. Quaranta also served as a talent evaluator and player scout for the Maryland Olympic Development Program. ORIOLES: Broadcaster Rick Dempsey, the Most Valuable Player of the 1983 World Series and a former star catcher with the team, will speak at Washington College on Jan. 22. Billed as “A Conversation with Orioles Catcher Rick Dempsey,” the talk is being presented by the college’s baseball team. It will begin at 1p.m. in Decker Theatre at the college’s Gibson Center for the Arts. Light refreshments will follow, and a selection of autographed items will be available through a silent auction. Admission is free and open to the public; donations to the college’s baseball team will be accepted. NAVY FOOTBALL: Senior defensive end Jabaree Tuani has been selected to the 87th annual East-west Shrine All-star Game, which will take place Jan. 21 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The game will be televised by the NFL Network starting at 4 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Maryland Sophomore Alyssa Thomas was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week. … Washington College sophomore forward-center Latisha Pledger was honored as the Centennial Conference Player of the Week. CAPITALS: Left wing Alex Ovechkin was named the NHL’S Second Star of the Week. D.C. UNITED: Players are set to begin training Jan.15, then will leave Washington eight days later for Sarasota, Fla., where they will train at Lakewood Ranch. United is scheduled to train from Feb. 3 until Feb. 5 in Washington before departing Feb. 6 for Scottsdale, Ariz. Phase Two of United’s preseason will extend until Feb. 16 in Arizona. Later, the club will make its seventh appearance in the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., with games against the Chicago Fire (Feb. 25), Charleston Battery (Feb. 29) and Columbus Crew (March 3). —