Ethereal Road scratched from the Kentucky Derby Friday morning, clearing the way for Rich Strike to run. Rattle N Roll, second on the Also Eligible list for the Kentucky Derby, also scratched from the Run for the Roses.
Churchill Downs announced scratches for the Kentucky Oaks day card Friday morning in advance of the 10:30 a.m. EDT post time for the Oaks day card. Only Beguine, the also-eligible entrant, was scratched from the Oaks. Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. EDT was also the scratch time for the Kentucky Derby.
Ethereal Road, whose 22 points made him the last horse in from the Kentucky Derby bubble, drew the No. 20 post position when the race drew on May 2. Now Rich Strike will break from that outermost post position.
Rich Strike earned all 21 of his Road to the Kentucky Derby points over the Tapeta at Turfway, with a fourth-place finish in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and a third-place effort in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
A winner once in seven starts, the son of Keen Ice won a $30,000 maiden claimer at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17, 2021, going a mile on the dirt. That day he cruised home by 17 1/4 lengths. He was claimed from that race by trainer Eric Reed and owner RED TR-Racing, LLC, the connections who bring him to the Kentucky Derby.
This fella’s happy. Rich Strike draws in after Ethereal Road scratches. Rick Strike has shown tons of energy and run for the past 9 mornings. At times, nerves. #kentuckyderby pic.twitter.com/9OKGe1QJti
— Kevin Kilroy (@TrustYourLuck) May 6, 2022
Other than Beguine, the also-eligible entrant in the Kentucky Oaks, there were only two other scratches from stakes races at Churchill Downs for Friday's card. No. 3 Militarist, who scratched from the Alysheba (G2), was a 20-1 outsider on the morning line. Last-out Keeneland allowance winner Sweet As Pie, drawn on the rail, was the lone defection from the Eight Belles (G2).
