Rich Strike came with a unbelievable late run to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby this season, but the bad news coming out this week is that the Eric Reed-trained 3 year-old won’t be heading to Pimlico racecourse for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday 21st May – meaning he’ll miss the second leg of the American horse racing Triple Crown.
Yes, Rich Strike’s owner – Rick Dawson has announced that his 2022 Kentucky Derby winnerĀ will unfortunately not be running in this month’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico racetrack (Sat 21st May), but the ‘good news’ is that he’s not injured but will now head direct to the Belmont Stakes on Saturday 11th June.
The Eric Reed-trained 3 year-old went down in Kentucky Derby history after pulling off a monsterĀ 80/1 shock win at Churchill Downs this season – coming with a weaving late run through horses under jockey Sonny Leon to deny the two main players in the race Epicenter and Zandon in a thrilling finish.
That was Rich Strike’s second career win, with both now coming at the Churchill Downs track.
In a statement put out via the Maryland Jockey Club, Rick Dawson said: āOur original plan for Rich Strike was contingent on the KY Derby, should we not run in the Derby we would point toward the Preakness, should we run in the Derby, subject to the race outcome and the condition of our horse, we would give him more recovery time and rest and run in the Belmont, or another race and stay on course to run with five or six weeks rest between races.
āObviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby itās very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honour for all our group. However, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of whatās best for Ritchie (Rich Strike) is whatās best for our group, and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately five weeks.
āWe thank the wonderful Preakness and Pimlico folks that have reached out to us and very much appreciate the invite.
āWe wish you all a great race!!!!ā
Rich Strike’s withdrawal from the race has now meant the Kentucky Derby second – Epicenter @ 13-10 With BetOnline – has firmed up in the betting for the 2022 Preakness Stakes and looks the likely Preakness Stakes favourite.
2022 Preakness Stakes Odds
- EpicenterĀ 13-10 With BetOnline
- Secret Oath 4-1 With BetOnline
- Early VotingĀ 5-1 With BetOnline
- SimplificationĀ 7-1 With BetOnline
- Creative MinisterĀ 12-1 With BetOnline
- SkippylongstockingĀ 20-1 With BetOnline
- Happy Jack 25-1 With BetOnline
- Armagnac 28-1 With BetOnline
- Un OjoĀ 28-1 With BetOnline
- (Note: odds are subject to change)
Recent Preakness Stakes Winners
- 2021 – ROMBAUER (118/10)
- 2020 – SWISS SKYDIVER (117/10)
- 2019 – WAR OF WILL (61/10)
- 2018 – JUSTIFY (triple crown winner) (2/5 fav)
- 2017 – CLOUD COMPUTING (134/10)
- 2016 – EXAGGERATOR (13/5)
- 2015 – AMERICAN PHAROAH (triple crown winner) (9/10 fav)
- 2014 – CALIFORNIA CHROME (1/2 fav)
- 2013 – OXBOW (154/10)
- 2012 – I’LL HAVE ANOTHER (16/5)
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