Key Takeaways:
- Rich Strike, the Kentucky Derby winner that astonished the world this weekend, comes from a Manitoba family.
- Dunn was aware of Rich Strike’s Manitoba ties before Saturday’s race, but thought it unlikely that he would race, let alone win.
Rich Strike, the Kentucky Derby winner who stunned the world this weekend, has a particular familial tie to Manitoba.
According to Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs, Rich Strike’s mother is from Manitoba.
“The Kentucky Derby winner’s mother was born and raised in Manitoba. In an interview on Sunday, he revealed that she started her racing career at Assiniboia Downs.
Dunn mentioned that he used to declare races for Rich Strike’s mother and that she had won a few races in Manitoba.
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“She continued to Woodbine, where she developed into a top filly.” He remarked, “[She] won the Woodbine Oaks, Canada’s top three-year-old filly race, and finished third in the Queen’s Plate.”
According to Dunn, the horse eventually became a broodmare.
“Who’d have predicted she’d end up being the mother of a Kentucky Derby winner?” “That is just an extraordinary story,” he stated.
A longshot at 80-1, Rich Strike won the 148th Kentucky Derby horse race on Saturday.
Dunn praised the victory as “amazing.”
“Shocker. Incredible comeback and true rags to riches tale. “I’m very thrilled for everyone involved,” he remarked.
Before Saturday’s race, Dunn was aware of Rich Strike’s Manitoba ties but felt it unlikely that he would race, let alone win.
“It wasn’t planned to run in the race,” he added, “but if a horse scratched out of the main body of 20 that was initially put together as the field, this horse might be able to come.”
“At the last minute on Friday, one came out, freed up a space, and Rich Strike was in the race.”
Source: CTV News
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