Nearly a year after his 80-1 upset in the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, Rich Strike pursues more glory beneath the Twin Spires when he faces six rivals in the $600,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day, May 5.
Though Rich Strike is sure to be a fan favorite among the massive crowd, he is unlikely to be the choice at the betting windows. The 4-year-old Keen Ice colt is the 7-2 third favorite on the morning line for the 1 1/16-mile race behind 2-1 West Will Power and 5-2 Art Collector. Last Samurai is not far behind Rich Strike at 4-1 odds.
Those three foes have the advantage of having raced this year, with Art Collector winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park before he was beaten by West Will Power in the New Orleans Classic (G2) March 25 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Last Samurai, fourth in the Pegasus World Cup, has since raced three times at Oaklawn Park, winning a pair of grade 3s and finishing a close second last out in the April 22 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Rich Strike, owned by Rick Dawson's Red TR-Racing, is unraced since running sixth in the Clark Stakes (G1) Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. Racing 20 days after a distant fourth-place finish behind Flightline in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland, the Derby winner returned with a flat effort.
A physical setback delayed his return to racing this spring, but he is fit, according to trainer Eric Reed
"He's about a month past" being initially ready to run, he said, as Reed desired to bring him back at Churchill, where he has long performed well. The colt has two wins, a close second, and his sixth (in the Clark) in four local starts.
Rich Strike is among several in Friday's race that could return in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs July 1.
Sonny Leon, who piloted Rich Strike to victory in the 2022 Derby and his regular jockey since, returns.
West Will Power, second behind Proxy in the 2022 Clark, enters the Alysheba off a 4 3/4-length romp in the New Orleans Classic, in which he raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.95, earning a 115 Equibase Speed Figure.
Video: New Orleans Classic S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G2)
"Big run there," trainer Brad Cox said. "I feel like we've given him a good bit of time to recover from that. We've been pointing for this ever since that performance there in New Orleans.
"Very happy with the way he's breezed leading up to this. He had a good run in the Clark last year and won an allowance race here last year. So he obviously knows the track and has had some success here. We'll see. I'm very excited about him. I think he'll be a big horse this year."
In his kickoff race in 2023, West Will Power was second to Last Samurai in the Feb. 18 Razorback Handicap (G3).
Flavien Prat rides.
Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, drawn in post 1, is likely to show increased speed under Junior Alvarado after running into traffic last out. The $4 million earner, trained as an older horse by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, was bottled up in the New Orleans Classic and could not challenge West Will Power, who spurted away after taking command from the early pacesetter.
Churchill Downs, Friday, May 5, 2023, Race 5Entries: Alysheba S. presented by Sentient Jet (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Art Collector (KY) Junior Alvarado 123 William I. Mott 5/2 2 2Last Samurai (KY) Luis Saez 118 D. Wayne Lukas 4/1 3 3Rich Strike (KY) Sonny Leon 118 Eric R. Reed 7/2 4 4West Will Power (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Brad H. Cox 2/1 5 5Smile Happy (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 8/1 6 6Milliken (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 118 Ian R. Wilkes 10/1 7 7Giant Game (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Dale L. Romans 30/1
