Reed slows down Rich Strike in five-furlong breeze
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike breezed Tuesday morning at Keeneland as he prepares to attempt another upset in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Rich Strike, most recently a close second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic, and regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes came onto the track as it opened at 5:30 a.m. Rich Strike proceeded to breeze five furlongs in 1:02.71 on the watch of Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.04.
This work was "more of an endurance thing," trainer Eric Reed said. "He put his speed work in the other day. Just trying to find something to hold him on the ground."
Reed said that he caught Rich Strike going his last quarter in about 24 seconds, and was pleased with the way the big chestnut colt started and finished his move.
"We kind of tricked him - we let him two-minute lick from the three-quarter pole, then let him start picking it up from there, and let him finish up down the lane a little bit," he said. "We're just trying to leave a little wiggle room if we need to do something next week."
Ten days ago, Rich Strike vanned across Lexington to Keeneland from Reed's base at the Mercury Training Center to work a sharp half-mile in 47.60 seconds. After being confirmed by his connections for the Classic over the weekend, he vanned back to Keeneland this week and galloped at the Breeders' Cup host track Monday morning before his work on Tuesday.
Rich Strike entered the track Tuesday at the gap near the seven-furlong pole that leads to the main area of the Keeneland backstretch. After his work, he left the track at the gap on the backstretch chute and proceeded to the more isolated barn area on Rice Road where all the Breeders' Cup horses will be housed and settled into his new stall.
Reed said Rich Strike's continuing mental maturation has made planning his training toward the Classic easier.
"He's gotten a lot more willing to do it our way rather than his way," Reed said. "There was a time he would go out and go in 34 and 46, and we had to adjust a little bit of training between that and the race day. We've been trying to easily do his works, and not go quite as hard in the gallops.
"He's starting to do what we need him to do, but since the last race to this race, he's gotten a little tougher," Reed continued. "I think Hot Rod Charlie and him, when they were leaning on each other down the stretch, he's never had a horse do that and push back. I think he learned a little off that, too, and he'll need that against these horses."
"But mentally is the biggest change we've seen in him. He's become a professional," Reed said.
Rich Strike was among the highlights on a Keeneland worktab that included a pair of major contenders for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Early race favorite Jackie's Warrior, the defending Eclipse Award champion in the division, worked five furlongs in 58.83, according to Welsch, going inside of stablemate County Final for Steve Asmussen. The duo galloped out in 1:12.06 in the darkness.
Defending Sprint winner Aloha West worked for trainer Wayne Catalano immediately after the first renovation break as the sun rose. He went five furlongs in 58.77, and galloped out in 1:12.97.
Also working after the renovation break was Filly and Mare Sprint candidate Edgeway. She went a half-mile in 46.16 and covered five furlongs in 58.71. She is trained by John Sadler, who sent Classic favorite Flightline to the track for his first local gallop shortly after the track opened. The unbeaten colt arrived in Lexington on Sunda and jogged on Monday.
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