Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike worked at Churchill Downs Sept. 21 for trainer Eric Reed toward an intended start in the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) Oct. 1 at the Louisville track.
The son of Keen Ice breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 with regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes aboard. The workout ranked ninth fastest out of 19 horses who worked that distance Wednesday at Churchill Downs.
"He worked very relaxed. I couldn't have been happier with the way he finished up, that's what we wanted," Reed said.
"We didn't want him to put in such a sharp work because we're coming back with him. I was real pleased, and the rider was more than pleased."
Last out, the 3-year-old colt finished fourth in the Aug. 27 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
His first breeze since the Travers was recorded Sept. 13 at Reed's Mercury Equine Center, where the colt went five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.
Since his Derby upset, the colt has only raced one other time besides the Travers—a sixth-place finish in the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park.
Rich Strike has earned $2,101,289 in 10 starts, with most of his earnings coming for his current owner, Rick Dawson's RED-TR Racing.
Reed said that regular rider Sonny Leon will retain the mount in the Lukas Classic, a 1 1/8-mile dirt race for horses age 3 and up. Hot Rod Charlie is among the other top horses pointed to the race.
