There might be no Triple Crown winner this 12 months after the proprietor of Kentucky Derby champ Wealthy Strike introduced Thursday that his colt would skip the Preakness and run as a substitute within the Belmont Stakes.
Rick Dawson mentioned Wealthy Strike got here out of the Derby in wonderful form however that he and coach Eric Reed had determined to not push the colt into the second leg of the Triple Crown after solely two weeks of relaxation, particularly after profitable the Derby (and a legion of followers) as an 80-1 shot.
The colt didn’t even draw into the Derby subject till the day earlier than the race when Ethereal Highway scratched.
“Our authentic plan for Wealthy Strike was contingent on the Kentucky Derby. Ought to we not run within the Derby we’d level towards the Preakness,” Dawson mentioned in an announcement. “Ought to we run within the Derby, topic to the race consequence and the situation of our horse, we’d give him extra restoration time.”
Dawson mentioned the plan was maybe to run the horse within the Belmont Stakes on June 11, however in any occasion to present him 5 to 6 weeks between races.
“Clearly, with our super effort and win within the Derby it’s very, very tempting to change our course and run within the Preakness at Pimlico, which might be a terrific honor for all our group,” Dawson mentioned. “Nonetheless, after a lot dialogue and consideration with my coach, Eric Reed, and some others, we’re going to stick with our plan of what’s finest for Ritchie is what’s finest for our group, and go on operating within the Preakness, and level towards the Belmont in roughly 5 weeks.”
It’s uncommon for the Derby winner to skip the center leg of the sequence and forfeit a possibility to seize the Triple Crown — the Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
