Rich Strike headed to Preakness, but much of Derby field won't join him

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rich Strike, the improbable winner of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, headed home to Lexington on Sunday from Churchill Downs, and will spend a bit more than a week at trainer Eric Reed’s private training center, Mercury Equine, before embarking on the next step of his journey, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21.

Even though Rich Strike was an 80-1 shot, it appears only a handful of the 19 horses he beat on Saturday will take him on in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. As of Sunday, most of the prospective Preakness field consisted of horses who were not in the Derby, the most notable being the filly Secret Oath, winner of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.

Reed on Sunday morning was still adjusting to the reality of having won the Derby. When officials of the Derby Museum, located on the grounds of Churchill Downs, paid him a visit seeking artifacts related to Rich Strike, Reed said, “I didn’t even think about that.”

Rich Strike did not get into the Derby until the last possible moment, when Ethereal Road was scratched on Friday morning. Only minutes before that happened, Reed had been told there were no scratches from the Derby, and in fact the security officer assigned to Rich Strike was told to leave. Reed was planning on going to the Peter Pan at Belmont, to be run this Saturday, if Rich Strike didn’t get in. “I knew that was what was probably going to happen,” he said. “I told my guys not to pout.”

But soon thereafter, he received word that trainer D. Wayne Lukas had in fact scratched Ethereal Road, which got Rich Strike in from the also-eligible list.

Lukas on Sunday morning joked, “I want my 10 percent” from Rich Strike’s connections.

Reed watched the race on the giant screen above the paddock. He has a bad back, and said it gave out in the closing yards, causing him to fall.

“I never saw my horse cross the finish line,” he said. “And then the guys were jumping on top of me. I was telling them, ‘My back, my back.’ ”

Of the 19 horses who were defeated by Rich Strike in the Derby, the only one absolutely committed to the Preakness on Sunday was Simplification, who finished fourth. His trainer, Antonio Sano, said Simplification was to head to Baltimore on Monday, less than 48 hours after the Derby.

Steve Asmussen, who trains Derby runner-up Epicenter, said he would make a decision after conferring with owner Ron Winchell, but said Epicenter “came out of the race really good.” Asmussen said Epicenter would go back to the track to train on Wednesday.

“I’m proud of who he is,” Asmussen said. “The focus now is how he becomes the 3-year-old champion.”

Zandon, who finished third, remains a possibility for the Preakness, but if ranking the likelihood of running, Zandon’s chances seem below that of Epicenter.

Chad Brown, who trains Zandon, will run Wood Memorial runner-up Early Voting. Jose Ortiz has the call on Early Voting, meaning Simplification – whom Ortiz rode in the Derby – will need a new rider for the Preakness.

But the most intriguing prospect for the Preakness would be Secret Oath. Lukas said he would speak to owners Robert and Stacy Mitchell, but said he was happy with how Secret Oath had come out of the Oaks. He said he would walk her three to four days post-race before returning to the track to train.

Lukas also said he’d consider running Ethereal Road if he bounces back well after a couple of unsatisfactory training sessions late last week, but said he “doesn’t want to run those two against each other.”

Kenny McPeek has three runners under consideration for the Preakness, including Smile Happy, who was eighth in the Derby. He also has Rattle N Roll, who was the second also-eligible for the Derby and did not get in, and Creative Minister, an impressive allowance winner at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Not all three are expected to run, but McPeek could have at least one starter, if not two. Tiz the Bomb, ninth in the Derby for McPeek, will not run in the Preakness.

Un Ojo, who missed the Derby owing to a foot bruise, has recovered sufficiently and is a certain starter in the Preakness barring another unforeseen setback.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is not going on to the Preakness with White Abarrio, who finished 16th after being caught very wide throughout, but he will run Skippylongstocking, most recently third in the Wood Memorial. Junior Alvarado has the mount on Skippylongstocking, Joseph said.

Among the other Derby runners, Todd Pletcher said his trio of Mo Donegal (fifth), Charge It (17th), and Pioneer of Medina (19th) all will skip the Preakness. He said Mo Donegal was likely for the Belmont, the final leg of the Triple Crown, on June 11.

Brad Cox said his three Derby runners – Tawny Port (seventh), Zozos (10th), and Cyberknife (18th) – also would skip the Preakness, and perhaps the Belmont, too. He said Cyberknife’s next main goal would be the Haskell, with a possible prep in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs.

Barber Road (sixth) will skip the Preakness but run in the Belmont, trainer John Ortiz said. Happy Jack (14th) also will go to the Belmont after bypassing the Preakness, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Taiba (12th) will re-group, as will Classic Causeway (11th). Crown Pride (13th) is returning to Japan, and Summer Is Tomorrow (20th) is going back to the United Arab Emirates. Plans have yet to be determined for Messier (15th), trainer Tim Yakteen said Sunday.

-- additional reporting by David Grening, Nicole Russo, and Mike Welsch