Rich Strike will not compete for the Triple Crown.
Rick Dawson, owner of the thoroughbred that was the improbable victor of the Kentucky Derby after entering the race with 80-1 odds, announced Thursday that the horse will not compete at the Preakness Stakes.
“Obviously, with our tremendous effort and win in the Derby, 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,” Dawson said in a statement.
“However, after much discussion and consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed, and a few others, we are going to stay with our plan of what’s best for Ritchie is what’s best for our group, and pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont in approximately 5 weeks.”
The Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday, May 21 at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown — Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes — in history. The last one to do so was Justify in 2018.