Rich Strike will run in Breeders' Cup Classic, trainer says
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After several weeks of indecision, trainer Eric Reed announced Sunday that Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will indeed run in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Reed said he and Rick Dawson, whose RED TR-Racing owns Rich Strike, have decided to roll the dice when trying heavily favored Flightline and other top horses in the $6 million race at Keeneland. The alternate option was to wait for the Grade 1 Clark on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, where Rich Strike won the Derby on May 7.
“Rich Strike is doing as good as ever,” Reed said. “Rick feels that he deserves the chance to take on the best in the world.”
Rich Strike is winless in three starts since he won the Derby at 80-1, but he was very competitive in his last race, the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic at Churchill, when he was a close second to Hot Rod Charlie.
Rich Strike will have his final work toward the 1 1/4-mile Classic “either Tuesday or Wednesday” at Keeneland, Reed said. The Keen Ice colt already has breezed once at Keeneland since the Lukas Classic when going a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Oct. 15. Sonny Leon retains the mount for the Classic.
Flightline, expected to be an odds-on favorite in the Classic, was to arrive later Sunday at Keeneland following a flight from his Southern California base. He and Rich Strike are among at least seven expected for the Classic, along with Epicenter, Taiba, Life Is Good, Olympiad, and Happy Saver.
Pre-entries for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races to be run Nov. 4-5 are due Monday, with announcement of pre-entries set for Wednesday at noon Eastern. Entries for all races will be drawn Monday, Oct. 31.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.