Rich Strike trains in shed row as Reed keeps a close watch on him

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike had a quiet morning of training in the barn area at Keeneland as he continues to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, not going up to the track as trainer Eric Reed kept a close eye on him.

Rich Strike moved to Keeneland from Reed’s Mercury Equine Center across Lexington earlier this week, and turned in a maintenance breeze on the main track Tuesday morning. Following that, the colt coughed a few times back at the barn while cooling out. Reed had the colt scoped and had bloodwork done, both of which came back with no problems, and Rich Strike was cleared to train as normal.

However, out of an abundance of caution, Reed elected to go easy on his star Thursday morning and to keep him close under his watch. With regular morning rider Gabriel Lagunes aboard, Rich Strike jogged and slowly cantered in laps around an empty shed row in the Rice Road barn area at Keeneland, which remains very quiet with a number of Breeders’ Cup contenders yet to move into this section that will house all horses for the races. The colt was in good spirits and did not cough or show any signs of trouble.

Rich Strike will gallop on Friday morning at Keeneland.

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