Kentucky Derby: Rich Strike races to huge upset
LOUISVILLE, Ky. –
With favouite Epicenter and Zandon duelling in entrance, Wealthy Strike got here charging up the rail for a surprising 80-1 upset within the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Jockey Sonny Leon guided Wealthy Strike from far again within the 20-horse area to beat 4-1 favourite Epicenter by three-quarters of a size. Zandon was one other three-quarters of a size again in third at Churchill Downs in entrance of a crowd that included former President Donald Trump.
“I about fell down within the paddock when he hit the wire,” successful proprietor Rick Dawson stated. “I about handed out.”
Wealthy Strike triggered the second-biggest upset within the race’s 148-year historical past, paying US$163.60 to win. Solely Donerail in 1913 had the next payout of $184.90.
Wealthy Strike ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.61.
After taking a chew out of his a lot costlier competitors, Wealthy Strike playfully chomped the horse that guided him to the winner’s circle.
Wealthy Strike wasn’t even within the Derby area till Friday when Corridor of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas scratched Ethereal Street, making room for the chestnut colt skilled by Eric Reed.
“We discovered about 30 seconds earlier than the deadline on Friday,” Dawson stated. “It put us within the race and actually we at all times felt if we simply bought in we have a shot.”
Each Leon, from Venezuela, and Reed had been of their first Derby. Leon recurrently rides on small circuits, together with Ohio. Reed endured a tragedy 5 years in the past when he misplaced practically two dozen horses in a barn hearth at his coaching heart in Lexington.
Leon’s rail journey was paying homage to jockey Calvin Borel’s stealth transfer aboard Mine That Chicken in 2009. Mine That Chicken sprang what was then the Derby’s third-biggest upset, paying $103.20 to win.
“Once I was within the final 70 yards, I stated, `I feel I bought this race,”‘ Leon stated.
Wealthy Strike was bought by Dawson, who races as RED TR-Racing LLC, for $30,000 final fall when the colt was entered in a low-level claiming race by former proprietor Calumet Farm.
Calumet Farm proprietor Brad Kelley could be ruing that call now. Calumet Farm has gained a file eight Kentucky Derbies, however none since 1968, when Ahead Cross was positioned first by way of disqualification.
Wealthy Strike earned $1.86 million for simply his second profession victory. The colt misplaced to Zandon within the Blue Grass Stakes final month and was overwhelmed by Epicenter within the Louisiana Derby in March.
Simplification completed fourth and Mo Donegal was fifth.
