Former claimer Rich Strike only made the field the Kentucky Derby through a late scratching, and he celebrated with an 80/1 score in the 148th running of the Run For The Roses at Churchill Downs.
It was the first for trainer Eric Reed and jockey Sonny Leon.
Reed said he was resigned to missing a run. When told he made the field following the scratching of Ethereal Road, Reed related to Blood-Horse how close he came to giving the game away after a tragic barn in 2016.
“After all the years training horses and that barn fire happened, and we lost 23 of our ‘children’, I didn’t think I would be able to keep going,” a choked-up Reed recounted when learning Rich Strike made the field.
“The friendship and love I got from my fellow trainers and the community got me through it.”
Given a ground-saving ride by Leon from barrier 20, Rich Strike manoeuvred around a tiring horse down the straight to blow past the favourite Epicenter and Zandon.
"I fell down in the paddock when they hit the wire and nearly passed out," Reed said.
"I am so happy. This is the reason everyone does this. We weren't supposed to be here. But I knew the horse loved the track, and he had been training so good all year and Sonny Leon, they know who he is now. He gave him the greatest ride I have ever seen.”
Bred and previously raced by Calumet Farm, Rich Strike is by resident stallion Keen Ice, a son of Curlin who stands for $7,500.
Rich Strike was claimed last year for $30,000 when breaking his maiden by over 17-lengths on the same track last September, having finished last of ten when making his debut on turf at Ellis Park.
Rich Strike was recording just his second win in eight starts.
Owner Richard Dawson found out his Derby champion made the field 30 seconds before scratch time.
"Eric and I would never put in a horse in a race if we didn't think we could win," Dawson said.
"We knew we had a shot because every time he went longer he got better. Today we went a mile and a quarter and he kept going. It's like winning the Super Bowl and maybe even better. You only have one player here."
Rich Strike comes from the first crop of Keen Ice, who handed American Pharoah his only loss at three in the Travers Stakes, and he placed in five other Grade I races, including the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic won by Arrogate. He was also second to the current sire sensation Gun Runner in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby winner is inbred 3x2 to Smart Strike, the sire of Rich Strike’s dam 20yo dam Gold Strike who was Canada's champion 3yo filly in 2005.
