Rich Strike pulled off one of many largest Kentucky Derby upsets in historical past, operating down the favorites within the stretch to win Saturday at Churchill Downs as one of many race’s longest pictures of all time.
Going off at 80-1 odds, Rich Strike got here from the again of the 20-horse discipline beneath a journey from Derby rookie Sonny Leon to complete three-quarters of a size in entrance of 4-1 favourite Epicenter. Morning-line favourite Zandon was third, with Simplification fourth and Mo Donegal fifth.
Rich Strike wasn’t even within the Kentucky Derby discipline till Friday morning, when Ethereal Road scratched out of the race within the last hour, opening up a spot for the primary “also-eligible.”
That was Rich Strike, who had only one victory in seven earlier begins and hadn’t completed any higher than third in any of his races this yr.
In the winner’s circle, coach Eric Reed instructed NBC Sports, “We’re not supposed to be here!”
His final begin was a third-place exhibiting behind Derby also-rans Tiz the Bomb and Tawny Port within the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. All three of his begins in 2022 had been over the artificial racing floor at Turfway. His solely earlier victory got here in a maiden race at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17.
Rich Strike is educated by Reed, who had his first Kentucky Derby starter Saturday night. Reed misplaced 23 horses in a fireplace on the Mercury Equine Center in Lexington in 2016. The 2022 Derby winner was bred at Calumet Farm and is the son of Keen Ice, who was the one horse to defeat American Pharoah within the Triple Crown winner’s 3-year-old season.
Rich Strike is owned RED TR-Racing, which is run by Oklahoma native Rick Dawson.
At 80-1, he was the second largest long-shot winner in Kentucky Derby historical past. Only Donerail, who gained at 91-1 odds in 1913, went off at the next value. The subsequent three largest long-shot winners have all come prior to now 20 years: Country House (60-1 in 2019), Mine That Bird (50-1 in 2009) and Giacomo (50-1 in 2005).
A horse with a come-from-behind model in his earlier races, Rich Strike benefited from one of many hottest early paces in Kentucky Derby historical past to rally for the victory. He paid $163.60 to win, $74.20 to position and $29.40 to indicate.
Epicenter returned $7.40 and $5.20. Zandon delivered $5.60 to indicate.
The full order of end behind the highest three was Simplification, Mo Donegal, Barber Road, Tawny Port, Smile Happy, Tiz the Bomb, Zozos, Classic Causeway, Taiba, Crown Pride, Happy Jack, Messier, White Abarrio, Charge It, Cyberknife, Pioneer of Medina and Summer Is Tomorrow.
This story was initially printed May 7, 2022 7:25 PM.
Support my work with a digital subscription
Cameron Drummond works as a sports activities reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader with a give attention to the University of Kentucky ladies’s basketball program, along with different faculty, highschool {and professional} sports activities within the space. Drummond is a first-generation American who was born and raised in Texas, earlier than graduating from Indiana University in 2020. He is a fluent Spanish speaker who beforehand labored as a neighborhood information reporter for the Austin American-Statesman newspaper in Austin, Texas.