Back at Churchill Downswhere he wrote his way into history on the first Saturday in May at the beginning of the year, Wealthy strike will take on a tiny field of older top horses, led by Balmy Rod Charlie , Content saver And Art collector Oct. 1 in the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2). The surprise winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Wealthy Strike, is 2-2 under the Twin Spiers.
“This is his first try against these older horses that are pretty experienced, but he's doing awfully well and that will set us up for something in the next four to six weeks,” trainer Eric Reed said.
“Everyone I see there is solid. It's not an simple race, and we would have liked to run in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) (September 24), but with the trip from Modern York to Kentucky… it would be like that.” It has to happen that quickly, and “Richie isn't up for it able.”
The RED TR-Racing-owned 3-year-old, sixth in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after the Derby, most recently placed fourth in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) on August 27 Saratoga RacetrackHe beat his nose and neck in the ceiling finish for the show Cyberknife And Zandon . Head of department epicenter was the clear winner.
Reed says he blames himself for the stallion's destitute performance at the Belmont and that it was complex waiting for the Travers to arrive.
“Belmont’s maturity showed (in the Travers) because he dug in and came off the bench,” Reed said. “If there were a few more steps after the finish line, he could have finished second. The performance he put in gave me back the respect I lost at the Belmont when I tried to get tricky with race strategy.”
“I had to wait ten weeks to show everyone that it wasn't a coincidence that I did something wrong at Belmont. I think he proved that with the Travers.”
The son of Hot ice cream faces a complex challenge on Saturday under regular driver Sonny Leon and faces five older rivals, three of whom are Class 1 winners.
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Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector earned a 4 1/4-length victory in the Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) on August 26, followed by a two-length victory in the Alydar Stakes on August 4 . August preceded in the spa.
The art collector wins the Charles Town Classic Stakes at the Charles Town Races
The 5 year elderly son of Bernardini recorded his first Grade 1 victory in the Woodward Stakes (G1) last October. With a record of 10-1-0 in 19 starts, he has earned well over $2 million.
Wertheimer and Frere's Content Saver, who won the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), is yet to claim another victory in graded company but has performed highly against elite competition. He has been second in his last five starts, including the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 11 airline and the Aug. 6 Whitney Stakes (G1) behind Life is good persevere.
The 5 year elderly son of Super saver is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and has earned $1,173,300 with a record of 5-5-1 from 11 starts.
Doug O'Neill's trainee Balmy Rod Charlie, who drives for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, will take his first victory since winning the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge presented by Longines Record (G2) in February aim at Meydan in Dubai.
The multiple graded stakes winner has earned $5,251,200 from 17 starts. Most recently he was third behind Content Saver at the Whitney.
His previous two starts included a second-place finish in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) on June 18, which came after a break from his second-place finish in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
Rounding out the field is the winner of the 2021 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3). King Fury And Chess boss who won the Modern Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) last year.
Despite the competition, Reed said he feels his sophomore stud has a good chance.
“It’s on its home track. It’s a solid group and some of them are probably the fourth or fifth best older horses in the country,” Reed said. “He has a lot of work ahead of him, but it prepares us well for his next start.”
“I think this race will decide whether we end up in the Breeders' Cup or not, but it will put us in a good position for the Clark (Stakes, G1) afterwards, and that's shortly after here at his home track (the Lukas Classic). That’s our plan unless he proves he can handle this group.”
Derby winners returning to Churchill Downs have been infrequent in recent decades. Mandalaun initially after the disqualification of Medina spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, finished fourth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) this year. 2018 last year's derby winner Always dream ended his career with a fifth-place finish in the Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2). My this bird the surprise winner of the 2009 Derby, tried his hand on turf in the 2010 Firecracker Stakes (G2T), finishing eighth, and in his final career start finished 10th in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Churchill later that year. Giacomo another Longshot Derby winner in 2005, finished fourth in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill.
A win by Wealthy Strike in the Lukas Classic would make him the first Kentucky Derby winner since Silver Charm to return to Churchill Downs and score. The 1997 Derby winner beat the 1998 Clark under the Twin Spiers by seconds to Awesome Again in that year's Stephen Foster and Breeders' Cup Classic.
Entries: Lukas Classic S. (G2)
Churchill Downs, Saturday, October 1, 2022, Race 10
- Class II
- 1 1/8m
- dirt
- $500,000
- From 3 years
- 5:26 p.m. (local)
