Rich Strike still is not certain for Breeders’ Cup after breeze

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike worked a half-mile on his own in 47.6 seconds under Gabriel Lagunes before sunrise on Saturday over a fast, main track at Keeneland, where he may or may not race Nov. 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

It was the fourth fastest of 80 workouts covering the four furlongs, according to Equibase. The 3-year-old colt owned by Rick Dawson went out five furlongs at 1:00.0.

“I didn’t think that I’d get nervous for only a maintenance work,” trainer Eric Reed said of Rich Strike, who left his home base at Reed’s Mercury Equine Center in northeast Lexington, Ky., for the work. “I was hoping for 48 or 49 (seconds), but he was doing it so easy and as long as he wasn’t fighting him, I was good with that. He handled the track well, and whatever decision we make, he’ll be ready to run.”

The decision that looms is whether to pre-enter in the $6 million Classic or wait for the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.

“The decision would be easier if the Breeders’ Cup was at Churchill Downs, and there wasn’t a Flightline,” said Reed, who watched the work from the grandstand alongside jockey Sonny Leon. “And it is not only Flightline, but there is Life Is Good and Olympiad and Epicenter.”

Epicenter was the horse Rich Strike ran down in the final one-sixteenth of a mile in the Kentucky Derby and a horse he likely would have to beat again to be in running for the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

“I know Rich Strike is a better horse than he was at the Derby, and (Epicenter) is, too,” Reed said. “And I would have to beat him again and not just by a nose (to earn the championship). We’ve got 10 days to make a decision.”

The pre-entry deadline for the Breeders’ Cup is Monday, Oct. 24.

“I think we will pre-enter,” Reed said. “I will probably bring him over (to Keeneland) the 23rd or 24th, let him gallop one day and then work the 25th or 26th.”