Rich Strike

Stop me if you've heard this one before: A horse gets claimed for a relatively cheap $30,000, later scores qualifying points at Turfway Park in March to get into one of the sport's most prestigious races at Churchill Downs, then ends up winning a career-defining Grade I stakes at improbable odds on the first weekend of May. That storyline describes the long-shot career of Rich Strike, who upset the GI Kentucky Derby at 80-1 back in 2022. But it also could be the 2024 script for newly crowned stakes victress...

Owner Rick Dawson has changed his mind a few times regarding the career of his GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice). One day he's coming back to the races, another day he's to be sold as a stallion prospect, the next day it's back to trying to get him back to the races. It's not that Dawson is indecisive, it's more a matter of him reacting to what is a constantly changing situation. "A few weeks before the sale we had made plans to ship him to Gulfstream...

Rich Strike (Keen Ice), winner of the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby, has been withdrawn from Friday's Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale and will remain in light training, owner Rick Dawson has announced. "After much consideration, I have revised my plan for Rich Strike (KY Derby Champ #148/2022) and will not enter him in Keeneland Sales auction on Friday, 11/17/23," a statement from Dawson read. "At this time Rich Strike will continue his stay and light exercise at Margaux Farm. I would like to thank my family, friends and...

Keeneland has added 10 supplemental entries to its Horses of Racing Age Sale, which will be held Friday in Lexington. The added entries, which include 2023 stakes winner Lady Lowery (Munnings), bring the total number of catalogued horses for the one-session auction to 330. Bidding begins at noon. The other supplements are: two-time 2023 allowance winner Detroit City (Dialed In); 3-year-old filly Frothy (Liam's Map); recent Churchill maiden special weight-winning 2-year-old Heart Headed (Oscar Performance); 3-year-old filly Lady Claypoole (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); 2-year-old colt Masmak (Vino Rosso); two-time 2023 allowance...

Grade I Kentucky Derby longshot hero Rich Strike will be retired and offered as a stallion prospect at the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale on Friday, Nov. 17, the organization said in a release Thursday. The 4-year-old colt by Keen Ice will be consigned by Candy Meadows Farm, agent and is available for inspection in Lexington by appointment. "Effectively immediately I am announcing the retirement of Rich Strike from racing," owner Rick Dawson said. "Over the past few months, Rich Strike was given the opportunity to rehab and...

GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) is making progress since being sidelined since May with tendon problems and may make it back in time to compete in the Jan. 27 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, reports his owner Rick Dawson. Rich Strike last raced on May 5 when a distant fifth in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs. He was subsequently transferred from the barn of trainer Eric Reed to Hall of Famer Bill Mott. "The bigger races we are pointing toward would include...

1/ST Racing & Gaming is ready to shake up the Triple Crown. The company, which operates Pimlico Race Course, has confirmed to the TDN that it is giving strong consideration to moving the date of the GI Preakness S. so that it is run four weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby. "We have discussed it internally and believe it's in the best interests of horses and horse safety to move the race four weeks after the Kentucky Derby," said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. "This...

Two weeks after it was announced that Eric Reed had resigned as the trainer of Rich Strike (Keen Ice), the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby winner has found a new home. Owner Rick Dawson has chosen Hall of Famer Bill Mott to take over the training duties. The story was first reported by Horse Racing Nation. "I have followed Bill's career for a while and have always been impressed with how he prepares his horses," Dawson said. "I wasn't on the inside, but it always seemed to me that he is...

Next week at this time, we'll know if the sport is on the cusp of another Triple Crown sweep. Of all the potential excuses for GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) not emerging victorious from the GI Preakness S., intense media pressure is unlikely to be one of them. You could make the argument that the diminutive, white-blazed chestnut with the endearing overbite has enjoyed one of the least-scrutinized post-Derby weeks of any winner in recent history. That's not so much because the spotlight on his accomplishment has dimmed....

by Bill Finley and J.N. Campbell After failing to come to an agreement over a proposed movie project, Eric Reed informed owner Rick Dawson via text Thursday morning that he has resigned as the trainer of 2022 GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice). Reed said he did so after Dawson gave him an ultimatum, telling him that if he didn't drop the movie project, he would move the horse to another trainer. "I have to do what's best for my family," Reed said. "Ultimatums never work. It's a...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy), eighth in last year's GI Kentucky Derby behind the re-opposing Rich Strike (Keen Ice), appears to have a very big season ahead of him after delivering a decisive 7-1 upset over a talented group of older horses assembled in Friday's GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs. Smile Happy shadowed heavily favored last-out GII New Orleans Classic S. winner West Will Power (Bernardini) from an outside second through early fractions of :24.30 and :47.80. The Lucky Seven Stable colorbearer struck the front...

After it had finally sunk in that he had won the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby with an 80-1 shot named Rich Strike (Keen Ice) that no one gave a chance, trainer Eric Reed started looking forward to when he would have his next taste of glory. Five races and 364 days later, he's still waiting. The year following the Derby has not been particularly kind to Rich Strike. He ran second in the GII Lukas Classic, but was out of the money in his four other starts. His 3-year-old campaign...