Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Works at Mercury

Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike  resumed breezing July 8, recording his first timed move since finishing sixth in the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Breezing at trainer Eric Reed's Mercury Equine Center outside Lexington, Rich Strike went four furlongs in :50 4/5, Reed said, beginning preparations for the Aug. 27 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. As of 1 p.m. ET Friday, the workout was not yet recorded on Equibase.

"It was really easy work," Reed said. "But he behaved and he didn't try to overdo it, which is what I was more concerned with than anything else since I tried freshening him up. But he actually was very, very comfortable in the work, just super easy. So very happy with it."

The breeze was moved up a day by Reed due to the threat of severe storms in the Lexington area.

Reed said Rich Strike, a son of Keen Ice   campaigned by Rick Dawson's RED TR-Racing, will work again at Mercury around July 16 before heading to Churchill Downs. He will get back to his usual nine-to-10-day gap between works, and after a couple of drills beneath the Twin Spires, Rich Strike will head to Saratoga.

Meanwhile, Reed said talks are still ongoing regarding an on-screen adaptation of the Rich Strike story. Reed said a number of people have gotten "pretty serious" lately.

"I'm going to make sure that they consult with me, that it's done truthful and proper, not in a crazy way—because it's a lot of my family and my personal life," Reed said. "So I need to make sure that if anybody ever does this, that it's done with respect to everybody."