#UK RACING: KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER RICK STRIKE RACES IN THE BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC

After wrestling with a choice between the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the more modest Grade 1 Clark Stakes, the connections for 80-1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike decided to go for their share of the $6 million jackpot Nov. 5.

“We are racing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

That was what trainer Eric Reed said in a text message Sunday morning from his Mercury Equine Center base in Lexington, Ky.

“Rich Strike is doing as good as he ever has,” Reed said. “Rick feels that he deserves the chance to take on the best in the world.”

Rick would be owner Rick Dawson, who added in a separate text that it is “a big stage again for Richie, but we wouldn’t run him if we didn’t have confidence, he will be successful.”

The best in the world on the big stage would be Flightline, the undefeated 4-year-old colt ranked No. 1 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and by Timeform. The Classic field also is expected to include Epicenter, widely seen as the leader among North America’s 3-year-old dirt males like Rich Strike.

It is the division championship that Reed and Dawson covet for their colt.

“Rick told me if Flightline goes on and does what he’s supposed to do, that’s fine,” Reed said. “But he believes we can defeat any of the others. Not that we’re better than they are. But we have as equal a shot at beating them as anybody else.”

When Rich Strike won the Derby, Epicenter finished second. When Epicenter won the Travers (G1) in August at Saratoga, Rich Strike was fourth. The Classic would serve as a rubber match and an influential race for voters deciding who should be the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old dirt male.

A Keen Ice colt who Reed picked up for Dawson in a $30,000 claim last September, Rich Strike finished second last out Oct. 1 in a controversial running of the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs. He since breezed a half-mile in 47.6 seconds last weekend over the same track.

“The workout was great, and the horse is great,” Reed said. “He’s going to run big no matter what race he goes to.”