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"Ritchie", the historic Kentucky Derby winner who came from the back of the field with 80-1 odds to win the race, will not compete in the annual Baltimore race in an effort to better his condition for the Belmont Stakes, announced owner Rick Dawson.
"Our original plan for Rich Strike was contingent on the Kentucky Derby, should we not run in the Derby, we would point toward the Preakness, should we run in the Derby, subject to race outcome and the condition of our horse, we would give him more recovery time and rest and run in the Belmont", said Dawson.
In a string of lucky events, the colt created one of the biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history when he jumped ahead of favorites Epicenter and Zandon from the 21st post position. He only was entered into the Derby the day before, after Ethereal Road was scratched.
The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel in the Triple Crown series. The mile-and-a-quarter Kentucky Derby race begins the series, with winners typically going on to attempt a shot at the Triple Crown at the mile-and-three-sixteenths Preakness race. The last of the series is the Belmont Stakes, or the Test of the Champion, being the longest race most thoroughbreds will ever compete in at 12 furlongs.
Along with trainer Eric Reed, and other members of Rich Strike's team, Dawson decided to stay on Rich Strike's current pattern of running a race every five to six weeks by saving his energy for the Belmont's grueling track, according to the statement.
Secretariat's win at the 1973 Belmont Stakes is what many consider to have made him the greatest racehorse of all time when he won the race by an astonishing 31 lengths and created a new track record. Secretariat has held the record for all of the Triple Crown races for nearly 50 years.
Only 13 horses have accomplished the magnificent feat of winning the Triple Crown. The infamous 37-year drought that dared to question whether or not the Triple Crown was still possible was broken by American Pharoah in 2015. Justify later went on to win the Triple Crown in 2018.
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