Rich Strike, Secret Oath Poised to Become First Winners of Derby, Oaks Since 2014 to Run in Same Year's Breeders' Cup

Oct 30, 2022 Churchill Downs Communications

It’s been eight years since both the winners of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) have run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Distaff (GI), respectively, but, with less than one week out from the World Championship event at Keeneland, this year’s winners Rich Strike and Secret Oath are on target to break that streak.

The last duo of Derby and Oaks winners to run in that same year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and Distaff were California Chrome, who finished third in the Classic to Bayern and Untapable, who won the Distaff.

Red-TR Racing’s Rich Strike, the 81-1 upset winner of the $3 million Kentucky Derby, has already arrived at Keeneland to prepare for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Briland Farm’s $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath trained at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning at Churchill Downs under the watchful eye of her trainer D. Wayne Lukas. She’s pre-entered for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) and is scheduled to have her final work Monday.

Secret Oath is scheduled to face last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Other Kentucky Oaks alumni that are scheduled to run in the Breeders’ Cup include Echo Zulu (Filly and Mare Sprint) and Nest (Distaff). Runners that previously competed in the Kentucky Derby that are pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup are Cyberknife (Dirt Mile), Epicenter (Classic), Long Range Toddy (Sprint), O Besos (Sprint) and Taiba (Classic).

A simulcast of the 10-race “Future Stars Friday” card from Keeneland will begin at 11:55 a.m. and the Breeders’ Cup will cover Races 6-10 (3-5:40 p.m.). Championship Saturday’s 12-race program at Keeneland will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the Breeders’ Cup on Races 3-11 (Breeders’ Cup starts at 11:50 p.m.). It will culminate with the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at 5:40 p.m.

Simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup will be available in the ITW area on the second floor of the Clubhouse, as well as select dining spaces. Guests who attend Churchill Downs on Friday will be able to advance wager on the entire Championship Saturday program from Keeneland. There is no advance wagering on-track Thursday for the Championship Friday program.

Simulcast gates at Churchill Downs will open at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

New Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool Nov. 1-3 With Up to 40 Betting Interests – A new Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool with up to 40 betting interests, including the popular “All Others” option, will debut Tuesday and close Thursday in advance of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships’ Future Stars Friday.

The new three-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Tuesday at noon (all times Eastern) and close Thursday at 6 p.m.

Technology advancements now allow up to 40 pari-mutuel betting interests, up from 24 in previous years. Track officials will release the field for Pool 1 following the conclusion of Sunday’s “Stars of Tomorrow I” at Churchill Downs – the Fall Meet opening day showcase of 2-year-olds.

Inaugurated in 1999, the Kentucky Derby Future Wagers provide fans of Thoroughbred racing with opportunities to place bets on possible entrants in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) at odds that could be far greater and more attractive than those available on the day of the race. The 149^th running of Kentucky Derby, America’s greatest race and the first leg of the Triple Crown, is set for Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Churchill Downs.

All told, there are six Future Wager pools scheduled in advance of the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Nov. 1-3 (Pool 1); Nov. 24-27 (Pool 2); Jan. 20-22 (Pool 3); Feb. 10-12 (Pool 4); March 10-12 (Pool 5); and March 30-April 1 (Pool 6). The Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which debuted in 2015 and requires bettors to wager on the winning sire for next year’s Kentucky Derby winner, will be held concurrently with Pool 2 on Nov. 24-27. The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 on March 10-12.

As was the case last year, Pool 1 will assume that horses under the care of trainers suspended from competing in the 2023 Kentucky Derby will not be under consideration. Instead, they will be included within the pari-mutuel field.

A record total of $2,060,691 was bet on future wagers for the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Fall Meet kicked off Sunday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 1 p.m. The 19-day stand will run through Nov. 27. … In Race 4 Sunday there will be a dedication in the winner’s circle to the late jockey Miguel Mena, who tragically died in a pedestrian accident one year ago on Oct. 31. … Racing will continue Wednesday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 1 p.m. There will be an abbreviated three-day week with live racing Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. There will be no live racing at Churchill Downs in Friday and Saturday because of the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will have a one-week hiatus due to the Breeders’ Cup and return to the airwaves Nov. 11. Fans can listen live in the Louisville area on ESPN 680/105.7 and online at www.espnlouisville.com.