Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is not going to run in the Preakness.
Owner Rich Dawson made the gorgeous announcement Thursday, 10 days earlier than the race in Maryland. It means there is not going to be a Triple Crown winner for a fourth consecutive yr.
Dawson stated he and coach Eric Reed agreed to stay with the preliminary plan for Rich Strike and relaxation him for 5 weeks. Rich Strike, at 80-1, was the largest lengthy shot to win the Derby in greater than a century. Only Donerail in 1913 paid extra to win.
The plan now could be to have Rich Strike able to run in the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Dawson stated it was finest for the colt to get additional relaxation and never run again in two weeks at Pimlico.
Rich Strike was not anticipated to be the morning line favourite for the Preakness, with Derby runner-up Epicenter and Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath set to be a part of the sphere.
With Rich Strike’s shock withdrawal, the Derby champion has not run in the Preakness in 2019 or 2021. The races had been run out of order in 2020 due to the pandemic.