Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will not race in the $12 million Dubai World Cup next month, owner Rick Dawson revealed on Facebook Monday morning. Instead, the 4-year-old son of Keen Ice will target a seasonal debut on March 25 in the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park.
“After receiving details from Dubai racing group setting out travel plans for Richie, which in Eric & my opinion are unacceptable & not in the best interest of Richie & our team, we will not be racing in Dubai in 2023,” Dawson wrote. “We are now planning to stay in the US & race 5 or 6 times, all contingent on Richie remaining sound & healthy.”
Most recently sixth in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25, Rich Strike took nearly two months off before resuming workouts Jan. 21 at trainer Eric Reed's Mercury Equine Center in Lexington, Ky. The colt has had five timed breezes in preparation for his 2023 debut, the latest a bullet five-furlong move at Turfway Park in 59.60 seconds on Feb. 18.
The 80-1 upset winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike followed that victory with a sixth-place effort in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and a fourth-place finish in the million Travers (G1). In his first try against older horses, Rich Strike finished a controversial second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Lukas Classic (G2) Oct.1 at Churchill Downs. Rich Strike returned in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland where he finished a troubled fourth after being forced extremely wide on the backstretch around faltering Epicenter, whose jockey Joel Rosario was pulling him up.
Rich Strike was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, and claimed for $30,000 out of his second career race. Overall, the colt's record stands at 2-1-3 from 13 starts for earnings of $2,508,989.
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