Rich Strike facts for kids

Rich Strike (born April 25, 2019) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He became famous for winning the 2022 Kentucky Derby when almost no one expected him to. He won at very long odds, meaning he was a huge underdog.

Rich Strike was the second-biggest longshot to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Only Donerail in 1913 had longer odds. Rich Strike almost didn't even get to race! He was only added to the Derby at the very last minute. Another horse had to drop out the day before the race. His owner, Richard Dawson, found out just 30 seconds before the deadline.

About Rich Strike

Rich Strike is a chestnut stallion, which means he has a reddish-brown coat. He has a white stripe on his face called a blaze. He also has white markings on his back legs, like socks. He was born on April 25, 2019, at Calumet Farm in Kentucky.

His mother, Gold Strike, was a champion racehorse in Canada. His father, Keen Ice, was known for beating a famous horse named American Pharoah. Rich Strike was the first horse sired by Keen Ice to win a Grade I race. He also became the tenth Kentucky Derby winner for Calumet Farm.

In September 2021, a horse trainer named Eric Reed bought Rich Strike. He bought him for $30,000 at a special type of race called a claiming race. This means any horse in the race can be bought for a set price.

Jockey Sonny Leon was the rider who guided Rich Strike to his amazing win. This happened at the 148th Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2022. Jerry Dixon Jr. was Rich Strike's groom, taking care of him every day.

Rich Strike's Racing Journey

2021: Two-Year-Old Races

Rich Strike started his racing career in August 2021. His first race was on grass at Ellis Park. He finished last in that race.

For his next race, he moved to a different type of race at Churchill Downs. He started slowly but then made a strong move. He took the lead and won by a lot! This is when Eric Reed bought him.

Later that year, he raced at Keeneland and finished third. He also raced in New Orleans in December. He finished fifth in that race.

2022: Three-Year-Old Races

Rich Strike started 2022 racing on an all-weather track at Turfway Park. He finished third in January and third again in March. His trainer, Eric Reed, noticed he wasn't quite himself.

In April, he raced in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway. He finished third again. This race earned him some points for the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby Win

Rich Strike didn't have enough points to get into the 2022 Kentucky Derby at first. But then, on the day before the race, another horse dropped out. This allowed Rich Strike to enter the Derby at the last minute! His trainer, Eric Reed, was very excited and surprised.

The Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2022, had many good horses. But Rich Strike was a huge underdog, with odds of 80:1. This meant that for every $1 you bet on him, you would win $80 if he won. Most people didn't think he had a chance.

Rich Strike started from an outside spot. He stayed near the back of the pack for most of the race. The horses in front were racing very fast. Then, on the final turn, Rich Strike started to move. He weaved through the other horses, finding a path. In the final stretch, he burst forward on the inside. He passed the leaders and won by a small margin! His trainer, Eric Reed, was so shocked he collapsed in the paddock.

It was the first big win for jockey Sonny Leon. He was praised for his excellent ride. Leon said he knew his horse well and waited for the right moment.

After the Derby, Rich Strike's owner decided not to race him in the Preakness Stakes. This meant Rich Strike would not try to win the Triple Crown. The team wanted to save him for the Belmont Stakes instead.

Belmont Stakes Race

On June 11, Rich Strike raced in the Belmont Stakes. He was the third favorite to win. He started the race by bumping another horse. He stayed wide on the track for most of the race. In the end, he got tired and finished sixth. His trainer said he wasn't the same horse that day.

Travers Stakes Race

The Travers Stakes on August 27 had many strong horses. Rich Strike raced against the horses he beat in the Derby. He started on the inside and stayed there. He tried hard on the final turn and in the stretch. He finished fourth, just missing third place. His trainer was very proud of him. He felt Rich Strike showed great courage.

Lukas Classic Race

On October 1, Rich Strike returned to Churchill Downs, where he had won his only races. He raced against older horses for the first time. He stayed close to the leaders. As they turned for the finish, Rich Strike moved wide. He seemed to relax a bit when he took the lead. He finished second, losing by just a tiny bit to Hot Rod Charlie. His jockey, Sonny Leon, was later suspended for trying to block another rider.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Race

On November 5, 2022, Rich Strike raced in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Many experts thought another horse, Flightline, would win. Flightline did win by a large distance. Rich Strike finished fourth in the race. His team decided to rest him after this race to prepare for 2023.

Clark Stakes Race

Rich Strike ran in the Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 25, 2022. This was his favorite track. He was the favorite to win this race. However, he did not race well and finished last. After the race, it was found that he was quite sick. He had an infection and needed rest until January 2023.

End of 2022

Rich Strike rested at a farm at the end of 2022. His trainer, Eric Reed, said Rich Strike was "just being a horse." The team planned to keep everyone together for 2023.

2023: Four-Year-Old Races

Rich Strike started training again in January 2023. He only raced once that year. He finished fifth in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill.

A few days after that race, his trainer, Eric Reed, announced he was leaving. This happened because Reed had made a documentary about his training career. Rich Strike's owner, Rick Dawson, felt the documentary used Rich Strike's story without permission. They disagreed about the film project. On May 25, it was announced that Bill Mott would become Rich Strike's new trainer. Rich Strike was then rested for 30 days.

Retirement and Future

In November 2023, Rich Strike's owner, Rick Dawson, said Rich Strike would stop racing. He planned to sell him. However, Dawson later changed his mind. He decided Rich Strike would continue light training at a farm in Kentucky.

In June 2024, Rich Strike moved to Bill Mott's barn. This was for a possible return to racing in 2025. His owner said Rich Strike had some leg issues but was cleared by a vet. His chances of racing again were about "50-50." Two months later, Rich Strike got another leg injury. This one was different from the first. His owner said the chances of him racing again dropped to "five or ten percent."

In December 2024, news reports said Rich Strike might become a breeding horse. This means he would be used to have baby horses. A deal was being worked out for him to go to Mountain Springs Farm in Pennsylvania.

In 2025, Rich Strike began his new career. He is now a breeding stallion at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions in New York. His service fee is $6,500.

Race Statistics

Legend:
  All-weather track   Dirt   Turf

Family Tree (Pedigree)

* Rich Strike has a special family tree where the stallion Smart Strike appears twice. This is called inbreeding. It means Smart Strike is both his great-grandfather on his father's side and his grandfather on his mother's side.

* Rich Strike also has Deputy Minister appearing twice further back in his father's family tree.

*^ The mare Gold Digger also appears multiple times in his family tree.