Rich Strike, the fan-favorite, was unable to keep his same momentum in the Belmont Stakes as he did in the Kentucky Derby this year as he ended up in sixth place. Strike recently won the Kentucky Derby defeating favorite Epicenter to win with 80-1 odds. Strike was the favorite leading into the Belmont Stakes as Early Voting, the winner of the Preakness Stakes, did not partake in the Belmont. Rich Strike’s odds at the end of Morning Line were 7-2, and his odds right before Post Time were 4-1. Although Strike was program number 4 and was in the fourth spot at the starting gate, trainer Eric Reed said that he would’ve run better with an inside trip and not a middle one as he did run. However, even though Rich Strike performed poorly in the Belmont, he’s now focusing on the Run Happy Travers Stakes, the major stakes race by the NYRA at Saratoga Race Course. Strike, Reed, and Jockey Sonny Leon will have to continue to practice before the Run Happy Travers on August 27th in Saratoga, New York.
