Why Rich Strike won’t race at Pimlico

There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, with Rich Strike, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, not part of this Saturday’s 2022 Preakness Stakes field. Usually a horse that won the first stage from the Triple Crown to Churchill Downs will take a stab. made history by racing at Pimlico Racecourse, but that’s just not the case this year, with Rich Strike owner Rick Dawson choosing to rest his precious three-year-old colt.

Of published statement by Dawson more than a week before the 2022 Preakness Stakes, it looks like Rich Strike could make a return to Triple Crown action in Game 3 at the Belmont Stakes.

“Our original plan for Rich Strike depended on the KY Derby, if we didn’t run in the Derby we would point to the Preakness, if we ran in the Derby, subject to the outcome of the race and the condition of our horse, we would give him more recovery and rest time and race in the Belmont, or another race and stay on course to race with 5 or 6 weeks of rest between races.

Rich Strike absolutely stunned everyone at the Derby, winning the Run for the Roses despite being the longest shot on the pitch. It was a particularly memorable race, to say the least, considering Rich Strike’s chances of victory. This is to mention that Rich Strike was just a late addition to the peloton, only earning a ticket to the race after a retirement.

The last time a healthy Kentucky Derby winner jumped the Preakness Stakes was in 1985 (Spend a Buck).