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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