Rich Strike nearing deal to stand stud in Pennsylvania

Rich Strike, upset winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby who had a roller-coaster year-plus trying to make it back to the races, is expected to begin his stud career at Mountain Springs Farm in Palmyra, Pa., in 2025.

Owner Rick Dawson, who campaigned Rich Strike in the name of his RED-TR Racing, has long expressed his desire to strike a domestic stud deal for his star. He confirmed in a social media post on New Year’s Eve that he has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the farm.

“I have entered into a P&S Agreement to stand Richie as stallion at Mountain Springs Farm . . . with owner Rich Miller – a final contract should be executed very soon & Richie will ship shortly thereafter,” Dawson wrote on Facebook of the horse, who has been stabled at Margaux Farm in Kentucky. “I personally plan to support Richie with several quality mares each season.”

Rich Strike, now 6, last raced when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs in May 2023. The following week, Eric Reed resigned as his trainer due to differences with Dawson over media deals to document their story and image rights. Rich Strike was subsequently moved to Margaux, where Dawson said he was diagnosed with nagging suspensory ligament issues. Rich Strike was rested and then began light training, with Dawson stating his plan was to eventually turn the horse over to Bill Mott.

In the fall of 2023, Dawson said the issues had not progressed satisfactorily enough for a return to serious training and announced Rich Strike’s retirement, entering him in the Keeneland November sale as a stallion prospect. However, Dawson had a change of heart owing to a lack of interest in the stallion prospect from major operations. The owner turned to stem-cell treatments, under the guidance of veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage, to address the suspensory issues. Ultrasound exams eventually cleared Rich Strike for a return to light and then more serious training.

The horse joined Mott's barn in Saratoga in late June, and he breezed four times for the barn, with the final of those a four-furlong work Aug. 7. After that work, Mott sensed an issue with the horse, and ultrasound exam showed a slight tear to the suspensory ligament in the left front leg, in a different area from the previous issues. Dawson shipped Rich Strike back to Margaux for treatment while his future was discussed, and ultimately decided to retire the classic winner for good.

Rich Strike officially retires with a record of 14-2-1-3 and earnings of $2,526,809. Bred and initially raced by Calumet Farm, he was claimed by Dawson and Reed out of a maiden victory at Churchill Downs in 2021. Racing through the Kentucky Derby prep series the following winter at Turfway Park, he finished third in both the Leonatus Stakes and in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby on the Tapeta.

With the points he earned in that series, Rich Strike drew in to the Kentucky Derby field the day before the race as an also-eligible. In the Derby, he and jockey Sonny Leon rallied from 15th at the quarter pole with an inside move for a shocking upset by three-quarters of a length. His winning payout of $163.60 made him the second-longest shot to ever win the Derby, behind only Donerail in 1913.

Rich Strike bypassed the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, but was sixth in that classic. That was the first of six starts following the Derby in which he went winless, although he was a close second in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic in October 2022 at Churchill Downs.

Rich Strike is from the first crop of Keen Ice, best known for his victory in the 2015 Travers Stakes over Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Keen Ice, by Curlin, is the sire of four stakes winners to date, also including Puerto Rican champion Bold Leader.

Rich Strike is out of the Smart Strike mare Gold Strike, giving him a double dose of that sire close up in his pedigree, as Curlin is a son of Smart Strike. Manitoba-bred Gold Strike won four stakes, topped by the Grade 3 Selene and the Woodbine Oaks in 2005; she was third in the Queen’s Plate. In addition to Rich Strike, she is the dam of Grade 2 winner Llanarmon. Three of her daughters have produced stakes winners, including Lode Lady, dam of Grade 3 winner Neecie Marie.

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