Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Skipping Preakness

Sad news to report as there will not be a Triple Crown this year.  Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will be skipping this year's Preakness to focus on the Belmont Stakes.

“It’s very, very tempting to alter our course and run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honor for all our group,” owner Rich Dawson said in a news release. “However, after much discussion and consideration … we are going to stay with our plan of what’s best for Ritchie.”

Dawson said he and trainer Eric Reed agreed to stick with the initial plan for Rich Strike and rest him for five weeks. Rich Strike, at 80-1, was the biggest long shot to win the Derby in more than a century. Only Donerail in 1913 paid more to win.

He had been coming in with the 5th longest odds to win the 2022 Preakness Stakes at 7-1 prior to Thursday's announcement.

- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com