Reed Already Looking Forward to 2023 for Rich Strike

At the end of horse racing's championship day, trainer Eric Reed emerged from the darkness of the Keeneland tunnel into the paddock after the running of the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Even though the horse racing season never ends, when the Breeders' Cup is over, it's sort of the unofficial end of the year.

Reed, one of the major players in 2022, was smiling as he came into the paddock following the typhoon-like performance of Flightline , who romped to a record 8 1/4-length win in the Classic.

This also marked the likely official end of the season for the intriguing Rich Strike , the 3-year-old colt that turned racing upside down on the first Saturday in May when he won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at the exorbitant odds of 80-1.

Rich Strike and jockey Sonny Leon showed up in the Classic but was no threat as they finished fourth, beaten 11 1/4 lengths by Flightline. He was dismissed at 24-1 in the Classic and made up some ground in the stretch, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the formidable Life Is Good  .

"I knew we weren't going to win at the top of the stretch," Reed said.

There was no disappointment from the trainer, only hope for the future.

The plan is for Rich Strike, a son of Keen Ice  , to run next year and Reed is hoping for big things.

"He is only going to get better," he said. "I can't wait until next year."

Reed had kicked the idea around of Rich Strike running in the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25, but that point is probably moot now. 

Next year could see the Rich Strike team head to race in Saudi Arabia and embark on a summer campaign that could include the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill and the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.  

"He really has shown me a remarkable growth in his body and his mind," Reed said. "He wants to train more than most horses I have ever been around. I am so excited for next year."

Rich Strike ran eight times in 2022 and only had the one win. He justified his Derby win with solid efforts in the Runhappy Travers (G1) at Saratoga and the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill.

His fourth in the Classic was respectable enough when you consider no one was going to beat Flightline.

"He had everyone fascinated with the way he ran in the Derby," Reed said. "I can't say anything except that I think he is capable of doing some great things next year if he stays healthy."