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| Staff Writer |
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Rich Strike, winner of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Gr.1), is set to make his comeback to the track later this month.
After finishing fourth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr.1) at Keeneland, 11 1/4 lengths behind the winner Flightline, trainer Eric Reed indicated on November 16 that the 3-year-old Keen Ice would be aiming for the Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs on November 25.
As a result, "we're going to take a gamble on his favourite track and see if we can't close the year aiming to achieve (another) grade 1," Reed explained.
Black Friday is a busy shopping day around the holidays, and with Rich Strike in the Clark, the Louisville track could see an increase in attendance.
Churchill Downs advertisements claim that Rich Strike would make history if he were to win the Clark Stakes at the end of his third year of racing. Not since His Eminence in 1901 has a Derby victor also won the Clark Stakes in his third year of racing.
Silver Charm (1998), Whirlaway (1942), Exterminator (1922), Old Rosebud (1917), His Eminence (1901), and Lieut. (1901) are the only 14 Kentucky Derby winners to also win the Clark, all of whom were older horses. From 1900 to 1898: Gibson, Plaudit, Halma, Chant, Azra, Riley, Spokane, Buchanan, and Hindoo (1881).
There are fifteen horses entered in the 1 1/8-mile Clark, with only Rich Strike competing at the Breeders' Cup.