Kentucky Derby viewers love longshot champ Rich Strike

There are upsets in sports, then there’s what Rich Strike did at the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

As the race neared its end, it appeared as though we’d see anything but an upset. Epicenter and Zandon, two of the post time favorites, appeared locked in a battle to the wire. Then, the ultimate longshot entered the chat.

Rich Strike, who went off at 80/1, surged past both to win the Run for the Roses.

He even showed some attitude in the moments after the race.

 

It was the second-biggest upset in the race’s long history and the single biggest upset in more than 100 years.

And even that doesn’t tell the full story. Just one day before the Derby, Rich Strike was not even in the field. But on Friday, Ethereal Road scratched from the race. With that, the eventual champion was in.

Rich Strike was not a household name when the race began. But two minutes later, that changed. After the Kentucky Derby came to an end, the longshot champion had earned himself a new legion of fans.

if you heard a neighbor scream it’s probably because they placed a joke bet on a horse named Rich Strike and just got paid 80-1 #DerbyDay

— shauna (@goldengateblond) May 7, 2022

Rich Strike finding out he was 80-1. pic.twitter.com/DI9c9Wa6yv

— Volunterror (@Volunterror) May 7, 2022

Next up is the second leg of the Triple Crown, The Preakness Stakes. That race will be held on Saturday, May 21. We can only assume that Rich Strike’s prerace odds will be a little different than they were at the Kentucky Derby.

[NBC Sports, Sportsnet Stats]