Coach Eric Reed had to find his bearings in the grassy area behind Barn 17 on Churchill Downs The backside faces several dozen reporters and videographers, all there to catch a glimpse of America’s newest classic winner.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he said.
Instantly, he is reviving with ease after his striking chestnut pony’s remarkable victory Rich Strike who had gone to a decisive victory the day before in the 148th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with a score of 80-1.
‘s pony Keen Ice came from his beautiful victory with intense vitality.
“He looked great,” said Reed. “Every time we handled him, he put on weight after a race, so I knew we weren’t to the end of him. I don’t think we got to the bottom of him yesterday.”
Reed said the sensible plan was to send the ponies over Pimlico racetrack for Preakness Shares May 21 (G1). He transported the foal Sunday morning to his ranch near Lexington, Mercury Horse Center, where he will be settled until Preakness week.
“We’re sending him over the weekend. He’s a good delivery man, he does everything regularly and is very relaxed about his training,” he said. “We’re not going to get much done. We’re going to give him a few days on the track and maybe give him a powerful gallop. I never give him a hard time; I spend time practicing. my training 10-12 days instead of 7. I don’t like to run fast on him This will be the first time we have to do this but here’s the way it’s the way he is so fresh and getting better with every race.”
Reed said Saturday’s win, his first in first grade, is just now starting to sink in.
“I’m so proud of this horse and all of my boys and jockeys. It was a team effort a long time ago. We were just trying to get here and it has come a long way. more than we could have dreamed. He trained well enough to win that race all week,” he said.
Rich Strike was a last-minute participant in the Kentucky Derby, getting the outer gate further drawn for D. Wayne Lukas’ The path of purity who was scratched within 30 minutes before the May 6 deadline.
Reed said: “I’m so happy for my crew. They went to the tiniest of rails and worked in conditions after our ranch accident a few years ago that most people would never have. want to do more”. in 2016, claimed 23 horses. “They went through a tough time. I’m so proud they were able to get through yesterday, for me it was me filling out a bucket list item for my gang. They watch the others. walk every year and I said to one of them, “Look at that crowd. Usually, you’re following them. This year, they’re watching you.”
Reed and he and RED TR-Racing owner Richard Dawson felt they belonged but certainly didn’t expect to win.
“Everything went well for him to win. It was crazy,” he continued. “He got to the fourth post and the water parted and he made it through. Then he just passed a horse in the middle of the ramp, and Sonny (Leon) rode him like he did. he was in every race He was patient He knew if he was going to get any part of it he had to save land I saw that move in the fourth column and I said with my father, that could put us on the chessboard.In the deep, I thought ‘Oh my god.’ I fell and didn’t even see the finish line.”
Reed has a family connection to the Kentucky Derby through his wife Kay, whom he describes as his “secret weapon” in running a successful farm and training operation. Her father was a horse trainer and her great uncle was Charles Kurtsinger, who regularly rode for the Warrior Admiral to the victory of the Triple Crown in 1937.
Now Rich Strike is on his own path through the Triple Crown.
Reed said he and Dawson discussed how they could access the Preakness and Belmont Shares presented by NYRABets (G1).
“Of course, we didn’t think we were going to win the Derby but we talked about whether we could do all three. We thought about doing just one and then going to Belmont, that would be around. We’ll make the call as we go but doing all three is probably what we’re going to do,” he said.
