Rich Strike - Deep Canadian Roots Shared by Russ & Lois Bennett

RICH STRIKE TAKES A PASS ON THE PREAKNESS IN FAVOUR OF THE BELMONT JUNE 11

There was little room for argument when Rick Dawson, owner of 80-1 longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, said: “What’s best for Ritchie is what’s best for our group.  We always want to do what’s right by the horse.”

Dawson and trainer Eric Reed opted to bypass Saturday’ second leg of the Triple Crown – the Preakness – and will instead prepare Rich Strike for the Belmont on June 11 in New York. (Both the Preakness and Belmont stakes will be shown live on the giant screen at Hastings Racecourse).

“Our original plan for Rich Strike was contingent on the Kentucky Derby,” Dawson said.  “Obviously, with our Derby win, it was very, very tempting to run in the Preakness.  However, after much discussion, we have decided to give Ritchie more recovery time and rest and run in the Belmont.”

It didn’t take long for the astute Nigel Reid of Horseracing BC to uncover the deep Canadian roots of Rich Strike.

To quote Nigel’s newsy nuggets: “British Columbia played an important role in the breeding of Rich Strike. BC basked in some reflected Kentucky Derby glory by virtue of Rich Strike’s granddam Gold Strike’s Brassy Gold being bred by our leading owner/breeders R.J. and Lois Bennett.

“By the Bennetts’ own stallion Dixieland Brass, Brassy Gold was out of the six-time winner Panning for Gold, purchased by Russ Bennett carrying what would become Lady Hawkster, a winner and subsequently the dam of multiple winners herself.

“Without the Bennetts’ expertise and commitment, there would be no Brassy Gold and, by extension, no Canadian champion called Gold Strike.  Without Canadian breeders, there would be no Rich Strike and no race that shocked the world.”

Shocked is putting it mildly.  With Venezuelan-born jockey Sonny Leon in the saddle, Rich Strike was the second-longest shot to win the Kentucky Derby in the race’s 148-year history.  Rich Strike paid $163.60 on a $2 ticket, the second biggest upset since 1913 when Donerall paid $184.90.

Greg Douglas