A bumpy start to the stallion career of 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike seems to be leveling off with the announcement March 4 of a new ownership group and the horse's relocation to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions near Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The 6-year-old son of Keen Ice will be shipped soon to New York, where he will kick off his stallion career with an introductory $6,500 fee. Rich Strike is currently at Rich Miller's Mountain Springs Farm near Palmyra, Pa.
As of the first of the year, Rich Strike had been owned by a partnership that included Jamie LaMonica, president of The Stallion Company bloodstock agency; Kevin Bitler, the owner of Finger Lakes Bloodstock; and, Mountain Springs' Miller, who all bought the horse from owner Rick Dawson. Dawson won the Kentucky Derby with Rich Strike and trainer Eric Reed. This partnership has since been dissolved.
Rich Strike is now owned by a group that includes Reed, longtime owner Ken Tyson, and LaMonica.
"It was originally contemplated to start Rich Strike's stallion career at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, however, the deal fell through," LaMonica said. "When Rich Strike moved to Mountain Springs Farm in Pennsylvania, our new ownership group circled back and made a pitch to get involved with the horse."
LaMonica told BloodHorse that Miller had been a dream to work with and gave him credit for making the formation of the new ownership group an easy transition.
"I'd send him another stallion tomorrow," he said. "His job was to manage the horse, which he has done well. He was not set up to handle the administrative duties and the contracts."
With the new owners, LaMonica said the stallion is backed by a more engaged group.
"Eric has always loved this horse. He's a special horse to a lot of people," he said. "We started talking, and Eric and Ken put together a really engaged group that is willing to support the horse with advertising dollars, mares, and by racing the foals later on. They love the horse, and they are passionate about him."
Miller said he was sorry to see the stallion go but agreed the way the original partnership was supposed to work "was not going the way it should have."
"I have enough stallions here now, and things are going really well with Enticed," he said, referring to his grade 2-winning son of Medaglia d'Oro , who was Pennsylvania's leading second-crop sire last year and the state's co-leading sire overall by number of stakes winners.
LaMonica said the bottom line for these changes to Rich Strike's new ownership group and new location is that they put the stallion in a better position to succeed.
"With the creation of the new Belmont Park, especially the addition of a synthetic track, there are a lot of reasons to be in New York right now with a stallion that has the pedigree to thrive on all three surfaces—dirt, synthetic, and turf," he said. "In addition, Irish Hill has a staff that can handle all the contracts and the administrative side of things. At the end of the day, it is a better opportunity for Rich Strike to become a successful stallion. This is all for the betterment of the horse."
Rick Burke with Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions' said Rich Strike should be a good fit with the New York program.
"New York breeders are sophisticated and informed, so they understand Rich Strike is a grandson of Curlin and out of a champion mare," Burke said. "He should fit a lot of the mare population both genetically and physically. I was able to inspect Rich Strike when we were negotiating the first time around and was really impressed by his good looks and presence. I am looking forward to showing off the Kentucky Derby winner to New York breeders. I think they will really like him."
Rich Strike retired with a 2-1-3 record from 14 starts and earned more than $2.5 million. Bred by Calumet Farm, the stallion is out of grade 3 winner and 2005 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Gold Strike, a daughter of prominent broodmare sire Smart Strike. Gold Strike also is the dam of grade 2 winner Llanarmon (Sky Mesa ) and the granddam of grade 1-placed, multiple grade 3 winner Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic ).
Aside from winning the Kentucky Derby at odds of 80-1, Rich Strike ran second in the 2022 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) by a head to Hot Rod Charlie and ran third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park.
