Rich Strike, Secret Oath Will Be Derby/Oaks Duo in BC
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Rich Strike schools Oct. 29 in the paddock at Keeneland
It's been eight years since both the winners of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) have run as 3-year-olds in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Longines Breeders Cup Distaff (G1), respectively, but, with less than one week out from the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, this year's winners, Rich Strike and Secret Oath , are on target to break that streak.
The last duo of Derby and Oaks winners to run in that same year's Breeders' Cup Classic and Distaff were California Chrome , who finished third in the Classic to Bayern , and Untapable , who won the Distaff. Those Breeders' Cup races took place in 2014.
Red-TR Racing's Rich Strike, the 81-1 upset winner of the $3 million Kentucky Derby for trainer Eric Reed, has already arrived at Keeneland to prepare for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Briland Farm's $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath trained Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. She's pre-entered for the $2 million Distaff (G1) and was scheduled to have her final work Oct. 31. Entries and post positions will be taken later in the day on Monday.
Secret Oath is scheduled to face last year's Kentucky Oaks winner, Malathaat , in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.