Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Works Out Ahead of Belmont Stakes

NEW YORK - Trainer Eric Reed says if there is anyone to blame for Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike's poor performance in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, just point the finger at him. The veteran trainer who orchestrated one of the greatest upsets in Derby history when Rich Strike won at odds of 80-1 last month, said he switched racing tactics in…

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike completed his final major workout in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 11. The colt ran five furlongs in 59 seconds in between races Monday at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Gabe Lagunes aboard. "He got away real well and worked exactly like we wanted him to do," trainer Eric Reed said. "The track was…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The owner of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike said the colt will not run in the Preakness Stakes. Rick Dawson said before the Derby that the original plan was to run the eventual long-shot winner of the Derby in the Belmont Stakes and that he and trainer Eric Reed are not comfortable rushing him back into the Preakness…

LEXINGTON, Ky.-On a sun-splashed bluegrass afternoon, Eric Reed stood in his clocker's stand/racing office on the turn of the training oval at his farm on the outskirts of the city. Sitting was not a good option after the 57-year-old hurt his back last Saturday-the day he crumpled to the ground in the Churchill Downs paddock after winning the…

There will be no Triple Crown champion this year after the owner of the Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike announced Thursday that his colt would skip the Preakness Stakes and run instead in the Belmont Stakes. The owner, Rick Dawson, said Rich Strike came out of the Derby in fine shape on Saturday. But he said that he and the trainer, Eric Reed,…

This doesn't happen. Horses at odds of nearly 81-1 don't win the Kentucky Derby. Jockeys who have never won any big stakes race of any kind don't win the Kentucky Derby. Owners with fewer than 10 career wins don't win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike and his connections disagree with those sentiments. One of the biggest upsets in racing history…

This doesn't happen. Horses at odds of nearly 81-1 don't win the Kentucky Derby. Jockeys who have never won any big stakes race of any kind don't win the Kentucky Derby. Owners with fewer than 10 career wins don't win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike and his connections disagree with those sentiments. One of the biggest upsets in racing history…

Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy Saturday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs. With favourite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby's 148-year history. The chestnut colt beat 4-1…

Meet the Kentucky -winning horse Rich Strike who shocked the sports world when he beat 80-1 odds at his first Derby - and his trainer who almost abandoned his career when a fire killed dozens of his horses. Rich Strike wasn't even in the Derby field until Friday when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas scratched Ethereal Road, making room for the…

Jockey Sonny Leon guides Rich Strike (center) to victory in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby, beating 4-1 favorite Epicenter (left), ridden by Joel Rosario, by three-quarters of a length in an 80-1 upset Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. >> Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy Saturday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs. With favorite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby's 148-year history. The…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - With favorite Epicenter and Zandon dueling in front, Rich Strike came charging up the rail for a stunning 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Jockey Sonny Leon guided Rich Strike from far back in the 20-horse field to beat 4-1 favorite Epicenter by three-quarters of a length. Zandon was another three-quarters of a…

Rich Strike, a horse only included in the race due to a late scratching, came charging up the rail to overtake the leaders in the closing strides for a stunning upset in the Kentucky Derby. The 148th running of the famous race saw one of the biggest outsiders to ever finish first, with Rich Strike paying $163.60 on course and a whopping $254 with…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy Saturday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs. With favorite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby's 148-year history. The…

LOUISVILLE, K.Y. (AP) - Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy Saturday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs. With favorite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby's 148-year history. The…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Anyone anticipating a return to normalcy in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy Saturday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs. With favorite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby's 148-year history. The chestnut…

When Rich Strike hit the wire low and long as if he were trying to sneak past a hall monitor, most of the Churchill Downs swells searched their programs to see who wore the 21 saddlecloth. Discerning horse fans everywhere hit Google to make the acquaintance of the jockey Sonny Leon and the trainer Eric Reed. What they found was a colt who had one…