Last weekend’s Kentucky Derby was one to remember. The incredible race provided excitement throughout, with a lightning pace and memorable finish.
After oddsmakers and analysts crunched the numbers for weeks, it was Rich Strike, with odds of 80-1, who came from the middle of the pack to win the 148th running of the Derby.
Not only did Rich Strike give viewers a thrilling show to watch, but also, he handsomely paid out to anyone who dared to back the underdog on their betting ticket.
According to the statistics, his victory marks the second-largest upset in the history of the famed race at Churchill Downs. Rich Strike paid $163.60 on a standard $2 win wager, coming up slightly shy of Donerail from 1913, who paid $184.90.
The colt’s favorable odds produced some huge wins.
One bettor in Minnesota connected on the Superfecta, which means they correctly predicted the outcome of the first four horses in order. Their $1 wager won a whopping $321,500.
Rich Strike stuns 2022 Kentucky Derby
This year’s Derby was one for the books, as it had basically everything you could want from a horse race.
Even for casual fans, the rapid pace of the start was evident. Then, as the field began to take shape into the home stretch, it looked like we were going to get a predictable ending.
Epicenter, who went off around 4-1, and Zandon (6-1) took to the front of the pack. It appeared it was a two-horse race to the wire; however, then Rich Strike found a seam and took advantage.
The horse rode the inside until jockey Sonny Leon made a fantastic move, splitting two others to get to a clear path. From there, Rich Strike reached a gear that two of the favorites no longer had in them.
He flew past both Zandon and Epicenter to win this year’s Kentucky Derby by three-quarters of a length.
It seemed clear that the up-tempo pace affected some of the top horses and restricted their ability to finish.
Based on the Beyer Speed Figure, Rich Strike ran his best race by a wide margin. He totaled a 101 on the scale for Saturday’s Derby, easily surpassing his previous best of 84. Rich Strike posted that score in his most recent event leading up to the first leg of the Triple Crown.
These speed figures help give a numerical representation of final times, while taking into account the track’s record at that distance, along with the track conditions and speed. They were created by Andy Beyer, who’s also known for being a horse racing handicapper and writer.
Beyer provided his insight into this crazy Kentucky Derby. According to Fox Sports, he said:
“The Derby result was the product of an insanely fast pace, and Rich Strike was the horse that made the last run. He’s unlikely to ever see a scenario like this again.”
That news is quite all right for bettors who already cashed in on this lightning strike.
Rich Strike’s Derby win pays well
WV horse bettors will be looking to duplicate what the Minnesota resident accomplished during the remainder of the Triple Crown. Their correct selection of the first four horses in order generated over $320,000 in profits.
It’s an incredible win that went against what the majority of the public bet on. While Epicenter received more than $8 million in wagers, Rich Strike saw around only $500,000. This was only about 1% of the total handle from the Kentucky Derby.
Besides Rich Strike and Epicenter, the Superfecta included Zandon, who finished third, and Simplification.
Zandon entered Saturday as one of the favorites, around 6-1 at post. Many picked the colt on their tickets; however, Simplification came into the race as another long shot. His odds sat around 35-1 right before the start.
That makes this Superfecta even more impressive, and why it featured such a massive payout.
Unfortunately, Rich Strike decided to forgo the upcoming Preakness, but he intends to run in the Belmont Stakes in June.