Breeders' Cup Classic: Rich Strike probable for Classic but Clark is an option
Though not fully committed just yet, the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike are preparing their horse as if he will run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, trainer Eric Reed said this week.
“We’re leaning pretty hard that way, I’d say that’s where we’ll end up,” Reed said Tuesday. “We got til the 24th, and each day we have another discussion.”
Reed’s discussions are with Richard Dawson, the owner of Rich Strike. The other option, Reed said, is waiting for the Grade 1, $750,000 Clark Stakes on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.
“Do we want to run against Flightline or run where we’re going to have a little better chance on paper?” Reed said.
On Oct. 24, pre-entries for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races are due. For the Classic, that means a pre-entry fee of $75,000 is due that day.
The Classic, with Rich Strike in it, is looking like an eight- to 10-horse field. Fringe players Americanrevolution and Dynamic One are no longer under consideration for the Classic, per their connections. Americanrevolution will be freshened for a 2023 campaign, per Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm.
Defunded and Country Grammer, the one-two finishers from the Grade 1 Awesome Again, are unlikely to run, but not entirely ruled out, according to trainer Bob Baffert, who will definitely be represented by Pennsylvania Derby winner Taiba.
WinStar also is part owner of Country Grammer, a well-beaten second to Flightline in the Pacific Classic. Walden, via text, indicated “not sure” regarding Country Grammer’s participation in the Classic.
WinStar will be well represented in the Classic by Life Is Good, who it owns with China Horse Club. Life Is Good, winner of the Grade 1 Woodward last out, has shipped to Keeneland to continue preparations for the race. Life Is Good is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also has Happy Saver for the Classic.
Cyberknife remains a Classic possibility, but is equally, if not more, likely to end up in the Dirt Mile.
Rich Strike pulled off an improbable 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby, drawing into the body of the race 34 hours before it was run. After a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, Rich Strike finished a creditable fourth to Epicenter in the Travers and then got beat a head by Hot Rod Charlie in a controversial running of the Lukas Classic on Oct. 1.
Lost in the controversial finish of that race – which Dawson is appealing owing to photographs that, to some, show Hot Rod Charlie wearing an illegal shoe on his left front hoof – is how well Rich Strike, under Sonny Leon, ran being closer to the pace than he previously had been.
“Sonny said down the backside if he wanted to, he could have gone to the lead,” Reed said. “He’s showing the speed we know he has. He trained a little more aggressive going into that race. I had a feeling he might do that.
“That also gives us encouragement in the Breeders’ Cup because we don’t have to be way, way back,” Reed added. “We’ll be able to stay with the pack and try to make a run.”
Rich Strike is based at the Mercury Equine Center in Lexington. Reed said the horse will van the approximate 17 miles to Keeneland on Saturday morning for a workout over the main track.
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Reed said Rich Strike would return to Mercury after the work and then, if he’s running in the Breeders’ Cup, return to Keeneland on Oct. 25 for a workout the next day and stay there through the Breeders’ Cup.
Reed said Leon, who was criticized by some for an overly aggressive ride in deep stretch of the Lukas Classic, will retain the mount.
Hot Rod Charlie, the Lukas Classic winner, is back training at Keeneland and on target for the BC Classic, per trainer Doug O’Neill.
Epicenter, the Travers winner and pro-tem 3-year-old division leader, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Sunday at Keeneland in company with BC Distaff contender Clairiere.
“We’re extremely pleased with where he’s at mentally and physically; how he looks, how he’s traveling, how strong he is, and the weight he’s carrying,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We’ll dial up his training over the next couple of weeks.”
Meanwhile, Classic favorite Flightline will have workouts the next two Saturdays at Santa Anita before shipping to Lexington on Oct. 23 and have his final pre-Classic work, everything being equal, on Oct. 29.
Olympiad, the Jockey Club Gold winner, is still in Saratoga, where last Friday he breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40.
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