Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike has been installed as the 7-2 third choice in Saturday’s (potentially rainy) Belmont Stakes.
Rich Strike, who miraculously won the Derby as an 80-1 longshot, will run out of post position No. 4.
We The People (No. 1) was installed as the 2-1 favorite, with Mo Donegal (No. 6) as the 5-2 second choice.
Here’s a look at all of the post positions for the race. Post time is at 6:45 p.m. with coverage offered by NBC:
- No. 1: We The People (2-1)
- No. 2: Skippy-Longstocking (20-1)
- No. 3: Nest (8-1)
- No. 4: Rich Strike (7-2)
- No. 5: Creative Minister (6-1)
- No. 6: Mo Donegal (5-2)
- No. 7 Golden Glider (20-1)
- No. 8 Barber Road (10-1)
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Rich Strike hoping for a repeat of Kentucky Derby
Rich Strike returns after not running in the Preakness Stakes, so it’s a smaller field with no Triple Crown possibilities.
Trainer Eric Reed was asked after Tuesday morning’s post draw how his life has changed since Rich Strike came out of nowhere to shock the 20-horse field at Churchill Downs.
“Not a bit,” Reed said.
“A lot of press, a lot of happiness, a lot of friends calling and congratulating (me). But I guess the biggest thing for me is the guys at the barn and back at Mercury (Equine Center) and my staff, they’re getting some attention. They work hard and never get any, so this is good to watch it happen to those guys.”
Can Rich Strike do it again? Or will another winner emerge?
Rich Strike made a late charge in the Derby, going from 18th position to zipping by favorites Epicenter and Zandon before the finish line to make some horse betting history.
“I don’t think the pace will be near as fast,” Reed said. “He’s still probably going to drop back. That’s his style of running. But I don’t think he’ll drop back nearly as far.
“And I think turning for home, if he’s close enough, he’ll have a real shot at it. But it’s definitely not a race where you want to come from way, way back. But we’ve tried a couple times to get him going really early and it didn’t work. So unless he changes his strategy, he’s going to have to run the same kind of race.
“We never expected to get the trip we got because to pass 19 horses that was asking an awful lot.”
| Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We The People | Flavien Prat | Rodolphe Brisset | 2-1 |
| 2 | Skippylongstocking | Manuel Franco | Saffie Joseph Jr. | 20-1 |
| 3 | Nest | Jose Ortiz | Todd Pletcher | 8-1 |
| 4 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed | 7-2 |
| 5 | Creative Minister | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenny McPeek | 6-1 |
| 6 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | 5-2 |
| 7 | Golden Glider | Dylan Davis | Mark Casse | 20-1 |
| 8 | Barber Road | Joel Rosario | John Ortiz | 10-1 |
