Trainer Proud of Rich Strike's Travers Effort

Early afternoon Aug. 28, trainer Eric Reed was on the road, somewhere near Columbus, Ohio. He, along with his assistant Sid Scott, were on the way home to Lexington the day after their 3-year-old colt Rich Strike  ran a brave race in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and finished fourth. 

With any luck, he might have been second. He was beaten less than a length by Cyberknife  and Zandon  as the three horses slugged it out for the place spot behind runaway Travers winner Epicenter .

"He ran great," Reed said by phone. "I didn't think we were going to beat Epicenter, but I truly believe we were the second-best horse. He was second best. I was very proud of him. He showed tremendous courage around the turn. He lost ground at the quarter pole and he came back. You don't see a lot of horses lose ground in the stretch and then come back like he did."

Rich Strike, a son of Keen Ice   owned by RED TR-Racing, shocked the racing world when he won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at odds of 80-1 on the first Saturday in May. He came back to earth five weeks later when he was sixth in the eight-horse Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 11.

"I had to live 10 weeks hoping I could get him the credibility he deserved," Reed said. "I think he should have gotten that Saturday.

Rich Strike was scheduled to leave Saratoga and van back to Lexington later Sunday. Reed said there is nothing firm on Rich Strike's schedule for future races.

"We will get him home and we'll try to figure something out," Reed said. "He is getting better and we want to run him as a 4-year-old."

Reed did say the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland would be an option, but was not going to be close to committing to it. He also mentioned the $750,000 Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 25 as an option.

"We have to look and see how we want to move forward with him," Reed said. "Races are always an option until they are not. We think he is going to get better and be a good 4-year-old. We really think he has a great future. It would be wonderful if we could come back to Saratoga next year and run in the Whitney!"