You’re Not Derby Dreaming: Keen Ice’s Rich Strike Swoops to Shocking Score

[Wandering Eyes]

In perhaps one of the more unfathomable results in racing history, 80-1 longshot RICH STRIKE (c, 3, Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike) took advantage of a pace meltdown to blow up the GI Kentucky Derby tote. The chestnut was deftly maneuvered by jockey Sonny Leon from the 20 post all the way to the three path while very far back off of supersonic splits of :21.78 and :45.36. Race favorite Epicenter (Not This Time) moved up closer after six furlongs in 1:10.34, and Zandon (Upstart) revved up as Rich Strike began to weave his way through horses. Epicenter looked on his way to victory in upper stretch, but Zandon move up to challenge to midstretch. Meanwhile, plucky Rich Strike and Leon had worked their way to the fence, and they kicked right on by Epicenter late to get up by 3/4 of a length in a result that made the likes of Mine That Bird look chalky. The winner, who scratched into the Derby field on Friday when Ethereal Road (Quality Road) came out, was most recently third in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Apr. 2. He was claimed for $30,000 out of a 17 1/4-length maiden-breaking romp going a mile at Churchill in September. Zandon was third, while Simplification (Not This Time) completed the $321,500 (for $1) superfecta. Lifetime Record: 8-2-0-3.
O-RED TR-Racing LLC. B-Calumet Farm (Ky). T-Eric Reed.

The post You’re Not Derby Dreaming: Keen Ice’s Rich Strike Swoops to Shocking Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article