Why isn’t Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in the Preakness Stakes?

2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will not be running in the Preakness Stakes.

It is a highly controversial decision, but 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is not running in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland this Saturday.

Rich Strike was a massive underdog to win the Kentucky Derby in the first place. At 80-1 odds to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, it would be like the New York Jets who have not been to the AFC playoffs since 2010 winning Super Bowl 57 this season. This was one of the biggest upsets in North American sports in some time. However, Rich Strike’s absence will be a major talking point.

Here is the logic behind why Rich Strike is not running in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

Why Rich Strike is not running in the Preakness Stakes

Here is the official statement by Rich Strike’s owner Rick Dawson on why the Kentucky Derby-winning horse is not running in The Preakness on Saturday.

The plan all along was for the horse in question to run in either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes, but never both. Dawson wants the horse to have five to six weeks of rest and recovery time between races. Therefore, one would expect for the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner to take part in the Belmont Stakes in the final leg of the horse racing Triple Crown. There is also this…

By not running in the Preakness, the horse’s stud fees will remain at an all-time high, or will not depreciate should he lose in the Preakness. There will be a great level of mystique surrounding the long-shot Kentucky Derby winner. It may be the equivalent of load management in the NBA, but when you have leverage in a situation like this, you must exercise it and use it to your advantage.

Only nine horses are running at this year’s Preakness, all with 30-1 odds or better of winning it.