Outsider shocks in ‘crazy’ Derby
Small stable celebrates after Rich Strike scores second-biggest upset in 148 years
Anyone anticipating a return to normality in the Kentucky Derby got a dose of crazy yesterday when an 80-1 shot came charging up the rail to win at Churchill Downs.
With favourite Epicenter and Zandon engaged in a duel at the front, Rich Strike stole the show with the second-biggest upset in the Derby’s 148-year history. The chestnut colt beat 4-1 favourite Epicenter by threequarters of a length. Zandon finished another three-quarters of a length back in third place.
“I just about fell down in the paddock when he hit the wire,” winning trainer Eric Reed said. “I just about passed out.”
Donerail in 1913 was the only winner at longer odds.
“What a crazy Derby,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, whose horses finished eighth and ninth.
Rich Strike wasn’t even in the Derby until Saturday when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas scratched Ethereal Road, making room for the chestnut colt who had just two previous wins in his career.
“We found out about 30 seconds before the deadline,” owner Rick Dawson said. “It put us in the race and really we always felt if we just got in we’ve got a shot.”
After taking a bite out of his much costlier competition, he playfully chomped on the pony guiding him to the winner’s circle.
“I can’t believe it after Epicenter’s effort,” said losing trainer Steve Asmussen, who is yet to train a Derby winner in 24 attempts. “I got beat by the horse that just got in.”
Jockey Sonny Leon and Rich Strike had only two horses behind them in the early stages. Leon eventually guided his mount between horses and to the inside rail. Rich Strike made a deft move around Messier in the stretch and went back to the rail intent on picking off Epicenter and Zandon.
Both Leon, from Venezuela, and Reed were in their first Derby. Reed endured a tragedy five years ago when he lost nearly two dozen horses in a barn fire at his training centre in Lexington. He briefly considered the fire might be a signal for him to leave the sport.
“People I hadn’t seen, people I haven’t talked to in years, my best friends were there in the morning to pick me up,” Reed recalled. “It let me know there’s so much good out there, and then I just decided I wasn’t going to let it take me out.”
Reed had no argument with the punters ignoring his colt, whose victory surely inspired little guys everywhere. “Small trainer, small rider, he should have been 80-1,” Reed said. “And so anybody that’s in this business, lightning can strike.”