Under the humid early summer sun at Churchill DownsRED TR Racing’s Rich Strike completed his last work on May 30th before moving in Belmont Park for Belmont Bets presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Cheers from fans filled the Churchill stands as the Kentucky Derby winner presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) drilled five places in: 59 on a fast main track between stage 5 and stage 6.
Coach Eric Reed said: “(We) were surprised to see the last time and how fast he was actually going and galloping.” “This is far more horrible than the Derby. I’ll tell you that. People don’t believe it, but it’s a relief when he gets up and comes home and everything is fine.”
Rich Strike will be shipped to New York early Tuesday morning so the ponies can get used to Big Sandy by June 11 Belmont Stakes. Reed notes that Rich Strike won’t show up at Belmont before the 1/2 mile race.
“I wanted to take him out on Wednesday and just go for a light jog or something because (with) two days off he was really tough,” Reed said. “That’s why we try to go early enough to get there tomorrow night. If we get there on time and he does a good job then Wednesday morning sometimes we’ll go out and just need to relax him easily. The next day we can train normally again.”
Looking back, Reed said that he stood by the decision to skip the Preakness Stakes (G1) and felt that Rich Strike was better prepared to run well in the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Winds of Rich Strike on May 30 at Churchill Downs
“It doesn’t matter Belmont’s results, this is the right thing for him. Mentally, he needs time. Physically and energetically, he’s ready, but if his mind isn’t right, he wouldn’t make it,” Reed said. “He’s a lot more confident since the Derby in all that he does. These three and a half weeks have given him a head start back on earth and that’s why he’s like a year horse. weeks. It just took him this long mentally to do things the right way.”
Frequent rider Sonny Leon will be the son of Keen Ice in Belmont. Leon, who scored his first ranked bet win in the Derby, has little experience riding through the Belmont oval but is working overtime to prepare.
“(Leon) researched movies every night. Some people talked to him and came to his aid to try to help him with things,” Reed said. “He’s got a lot of people helping him right now but hopefully we can get him on some horses a day or two before Belmont.”
Reed said he felt more confident heading into Belmont with Rich Strike than he did before the Kentucky Derby.
“It’s a big deal with Derby; we want to show that we’re right,” said Reed. “He needed to prove it to us and he obviously did it. Now we are going into Belmont with a lot of confidence and so is he. He is getting better, no. no doubt. I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of him.”
