A bumpy begin to the stallion profession of 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Wealthy Strike appears to be leveling off with the announcement March 4 of a brand new possession group and the horse’s relocation to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions close to Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The 6-year-old son of Eager Ice will likely be shipped quickly to New York, the place he’ll kick off his stallion profession with an introductory $6,500 charge. Wealthy Strike is at the moment at Wealthy Miller’s Mountain Springs Farm close to Palmyra, Pa.
As of the primary of the 12 months, Wealthy Strike had been owned by a partnership that included Jamie LaMonica, president of The Stallion Firm bloodstock company; Kevin Bitler, the proprietor of Finger Lakes Bloodstock; and, Mountain Springs’ Miller, who all purchased the horse from proprietor Rick Dawson. Dawson received the Kentucky Derby with Wealthy Strike and coach Eric Reed. This partnership has since been dissolved.
Wealthy Strike is now owned by a gaggle that features Reed, longtime proprietor Ken Tyson, and LaMonica.
“It was initially contemplated to start out Wealthy Strike’s stallion profession at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, nevertheless the deal fell by means of,” LaMonica mentioned. “When Wealthy Strike moved to Mountain Springs Farm in Pennsylvania, our new possession group circled again and made a pitch to get entangled with the horse.”Join BloodHorse Day by day
LaMonica informed BloodHorse that Miller had been a dream to work with and gave him credit score for making the formation of the brand new possession group a simple transition.
“I might ship him one other stallion tomorrow,” he mentioned. “His job was to handle the horse, which he has carried out effectively. He was not set as much as deal with the executive duties and the contracts.”
With the brand new homeowners, LaMonica mentioned the stallion is backed by a extra engaged group.
“Eric has at all times liked this horse. He is a particular horse to lots of people,” he mentioned. “We began speaking, and Eric and Ken put collectively a very engaged group that’s keen to assist the horse with promoting {dollars}, mares, and by racing the foals afterward. They love the horse, and they’re captivated with him.”
Miller mentioned he’s sorry to see the stallion go however agreed the way in which the unique partnership was alleged to work “was not going the way in which it ought to have.”
“I’ve sufficient stallions right here now, and issues are going very well with Enticed,” he mentioned, referring to his grade 2-winning son of Medaglia d’Oro , who was Pennsylvania’s main second-crop sire final 12 months and the state’s co-leading sire general by variety of stakes winners.
LaMonica mentioned the underside line for these adjustments to Wealthy Strike’s new possession group and new location is that they put the stallion in a greater place to succeed.
“With the creation of the brand new Belmont Park, particularly the addition of an artificial monitor, there are a whole lot of causes to be in New York proper now with a stallion that has the pedigree to thrive on all three surfaces—grime, artificial, and turf,” he mentioned. “As well as, Irish Hill has a workers that may deal with all of the contracts and the executive facet of issues. On the finish of the day, it’s a higher alternative for Wealthy Strike to develop into a profitable stallion. That is all for the betterment of the horse.”
Rick Burke with Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions’ mentioned Wealthy Strike ought to be a very good match with the New York program.
“New York breeders are refined and knowledgeable, in order that they perceive Wealthy Strike is a grandson of Curlin and out of a champion mare,” Burke mentioned. “He ought to match a whole lot of the mare inhabitants each genetically and bodily. I used to be capable of examine Wealthy Strike once we have been negotiating the primary time round and was actually impressed by his beauty and presence. I’m trying ahead to displaying off the Kentucky Derby winner to New York breeders. I believe they are going to actually like him.”
Wealthy Strike retired with a 2-1-3 report from 14 begins and earned greater 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 outstanding broodmare sire Sensible Strike. Gold Strike is also the dam of grade 2 winner Llanarmon (Sky Mesa ) and the granddam of grade 1-placed, a number of grade 3 winner Neecie Marie (Cross Visitors ).
Except for successful the Kentucky Derby at odds of 80-1, Wealthy Strike ran second within the 2022 Lukas Basic Stakes (G2) by a head to Sizzling Rod Charlie and ran third within the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park.
