Rich Strike is sold to group that includes trainer Eric Reed

Rich Strike, the 80-1 winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, has been sold to a partnership that includes his former trainer Eric Reed. The group led by longtime owner Ken Tyson plans to have the 6-year-old stallion stand in New York.

“I’m happy,” Reed told Horse Racing Nation on Friday. “I had to write off ever even putting my eyes on him, really. We might not have him for running, but if he turns out to be a good enough sire, we’ll always be proud of him.”

Flashback: 80-1 Rich Strike upsets Kentucky Derby 2022.

Reed and his wife Margaret, who are based at Mercury Training Center in Lexington, Ky., joined Tyson in buying their share of Rich Strike from Jamie LaMonica. The head of the Kentucky-based Stallion Company bloodstock agency, LaMonica acquired the horse from Rick Dawson and will remain a part-owner.

“Eric trains for me,” said Tyson, who is based in Nicholasville, Ky., near Lexington. “We’ve been good buddies, and he’s a good trainer. ... Once I saw that (Rich Strike) had moved hands, I started investigating on who bought him and what was going on. That’s when I got with Jamie and ended up getting in with him. We did it pretty quick. It’s probably a month or two since we talked about it.”

Neither Tyson nor Reed would say how much they paid or spell out the exact percentages held by each partner.

The group plans to move Rich Strike from his current home in Pennsylvania to start breeding in New York this spring for a $6,500 fee.

“We’re just going to completely rebrand him and get him to New York with those sires,” said Reed, 54, who spoke by phone from Okeechobee, Fla. “He liked the synthetic, and he runs in long races, and New York writes a ton of long races.

“Going to New York, I don’t think he could compete with the Kentucky (sires) right off the bat,” said Tyson, 76, who made his money running a multi-state plumbing business. “He could have two years ago when he finished the Derby. With the delay, too many big guys have come in since then, so I think New York is the best place to go right now.”

Bred and raced twice by Calumet Farm out of Joe Sharp’s barn in 2021, Rich Strike was claimed by Reed for $30,000 on Dawson’s behalf after a maiden-breaking win at Churchill Downs. Even though he did not win any formal prep races in 2021-22, the Keen Ice colt still earned enough points to be an also-eligible entrant who drew into the Kentucky Derby at the 11th hour.

Ridden by Sonny León, Rich Strike famously passed 17 horses to become the most unlikely Derby victor in 109 years. It turned out to be the last time he got to the winner’s circle. Unknown at the time, his final race was in May 2023, when he finished fifth in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs.

The following week, a dispute over the direction of a feature film and documentary led Reed to resign as Dawson’s trainer. Rich Strike eventually was moved to Bill Mott’s barn in New York, but leg injuries kept him from racing again. Dawson effectively retired him last year.

Reed and Tyson said they are finalizing a deal to lease barn space for Rich Strike at a New York breeding farm.

“Our connection and love for Richie has always run deep,” Tyson said in a written statement announcing the sale. “We’re excited to embark on this next chapter of his career.”