Preakness Stakes: Derby Winner Rich Strike Will Pass, Who's In?

It’s not unusual, but it still came as a mild surprise when Rick Dawson announced Thursday that his Kentucky Derby (G1) winning colt RICH STRIKE will be by-passing the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore.

“Our original plan for Rich Strike was contingent on the Kentucky Derby, should we not run in the Derby we would point toward the Preakness, should we run in the Derby, subject to the race outcome and the condition of our horse, we would give him more recovery time and rest and run in the Belmont, or another race, and stay on course to run with 5 or 6 weeks rest between races,” said Dawson in a statement.

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“Obviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby it’s very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honor for all our group; however, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of what’s best for Ritchie is what’s best for our group, and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately 5 weeks.”

The last Derby winner to not race in the Preakness (when the races are run in the traditional order) was Country House in 2019.

Before that, it was 23 years prior when Grindstone was injured after his Derby win and was retired.

The last horse to pass up the Preakness to run in another race was Spend a Buck in 1985 who ran in the Jersey Derby instead. Spend a Buck had won other races as part of a bonus series and a Jersey Derby victory would earn the colt a $2 million bonus. He won.

Gato del Sol, the 1982 winner, passed on the Preakness to aim for the Belmont (he lost) and it was all the way back to 1959 for the previous Derby winner to pass the second jewel (Tomy Lee).

So the Preakness will lack the Cinderella story from the Derby, but offers EPICENTER, the colt who arguably ran the best race in the Derby because he chased the wild pace and then led late in the Derby, a chance to get some glory.

ZANDON, who rallied to battle for the lead with Epicenter in the Derby stretch, is also set to try the Preakness.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner SECRET OATH could come back in two weeks and a day to try the boys in the Preakness. Fillies have won the Preakness, but not often (source Wikipedia):

2020 – Swiss Skydiver
2009 – Rachel Alexandra
1924 – Nellie Morse
1915 – Rhine Maiden
1906 – Whimsical
1903 – Flocarline

147th Preakness, Grade 1, $1.5 million, 1 3/16 miles, May 21

Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Last Race

Creative Minister, Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez, Jr,. CD alw, 1st
Early Voting, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, Wood Memorial, 2nd
Epicenter, Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario, Ky Derby, 2nd
Happy Jack, Doug O’Neill, Tyler Gaffalione, Ky Derby, 14th
Rattle N Roll, Kenny McPeek, Corey Lanerie, Blue Grass, 6th
Secret Oath, D. Wayne Lukas, Luis Saez, Ky Oaks, 1st
Shake Em Loose, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, Charlie Marquez, Tesio, 3rd
Simplification, Antonio Sano, John Velazquez, Ky Derby, 4th
Skippylongstocking, Saffie Joseph, Jr., Junior Alvarado, Wood Memorial, 3rd
Un Ojo, Ricky Courville, Ramon Vazquez, Ark Derby, 8th
Zandon, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, Ky Derby, 3rd