Rich Strike Works at Churchill, Readies for Travers

By:  Blood Horse

Photo Credit:  Nancy Rokos

Rich Strike Works at Churchill, Readies for Travers

The Aug. 10 work was Rich Strike’s fifth since July 9.

On Aug. 10 at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike  took another step in his preparations for the Aug. 27 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Working five furlongs, Rich Strike breezed alongside stablemate Common Bond  and completed his move in :59 4/5 on a fast track. Trainer Eric Reed said Rich Strike had worked with Common Bond in March leading up to the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and the Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park.

Reed said the Derby winner handled his partner easily Wednesday as he was the second-fastest worker of 15 at the distance at Churchill.

“We actually eased him up towards the end of the work,” Reed said. “We asked him to go by that horse. He wanted to do a little more than I wanted. But he showed me that fitness is not an issue.”

One reason Rich Strike may have wanted to do more, is that he has added some weight since his sixth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

“The difference I’ve seen from Derby to Belmont and Belmont to now is he just seems like he’s matured a whole lot over this 10 weeks,” Reed said. “He came off the track today with his head on his chest with a strut rather than playing around. He goes on the track more serious. I don’t remember seeing that much anytime after the Derby. He’s really more focused.”

Rich Strike will have blood drawn Aug. 11, and as long as he gets a clean bill of health, the plan is to move him to Saratoga this weekend, depending upon the weather. He will get one work on the Saratoga main track and then a “nice, comfortable half-mile” and “some good long gallops” to get used to the footing, according to Reed.

The son of Keen Ice   took to the Belmont Park track within two to three days, Reed said. It gives him reason to be encouraged.

“He was good and I don’t think it will be quite as hard to get used to this footing as Belmont,” Reed said. “A lot of people tell me it’s a heavy track right now, but it’s not as sandy, I don’t think. Hopefully, it won’t be a big deal.”

Wednesday’s work was Rich Strike’s fifth since July 9. The first three came at Reed’s Mercury Equine Center, with a time of :50 2/5 in his first effort after the June 11 Belmont. The most recent two came at Churchill Downs.

Rich Strike, out of the Smart Strike mare Gold Strike, is 1-0-2 in five 2022 starts with earnings of $1,977,500. For his career, the 3-year-old owned by Red TR-Racing is 2-0-3 in nine starts for $2,016,289.