Rich Strike eyes Kentucky Cup Classic for return
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is likely to launch his 4-year-old campaign in the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic on March 25 at Turfway Park.
Rich Strike, who was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Clark on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, had been under consideration for the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup, also to be run March 25. However, after reviewing the logistics of travel to the Middle East, owner Rick Dawson wrote on his Facebook page that he and trainer Eric Reed decided the trip was "not in the best interest of Richie."
"We are now planning to stay in the U.S. and race five or six times, all contingent on Richie remaining sound and healthy," Dawson wrote. "As a first race back from a long layoff, we are leaning toward Richie running in [the] Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park . . . Subsequent race schedule will be posted as determined."
The Kentucky Cup Classic is one of six stakes on Turfway's marquee March 25 program, highlighted by the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby, the track's major Kentucky Derby prep.
Rich Strike began his 3-year-old season at Turfway Park, finishing third in the Leonatus Stakes, fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial, and third in the Ruby en route to his massive Kentucky Derby upset. He was winless in five starts following that spring classic, although he was a hard-fought second to the older Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic.
Rich Strike returned to the work tab at Reed's Mercury Equine Center base in Lexington in January. He was vanned to Turfway for three breezes on the Tapeta in February, most recently a bullet five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Feb. 18.
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