LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s hard to get about 150,000 people to go from a full-throated roar to library-like quiet. But for a smattering of those who perhaps play blackjack and like the number 21, or, especially, those connected with a heretofore unknown colt named Rich Strike, Churchill Downs, back with a full house after two years of racing under restrictions, fell into mostly stunned silence following the 148th Kentucky Derby on Saturday. A return to normal? Not on the racetrack. Rich Strike, fortunate to even draw into the race on Friday after being stuck on the also-eligible list after the post draw Monday, pulled off the second-biggest upset in the race’s history, rallying from 18th with three furlongs to go with an electrifying closing kick that carried him past favored Epicenter and highly regarded Zandon in the closing yards. The 80-1 upset, before a crowd of 147,294, made instant stars of trainer Eric Reed, who has been plying his trade since 1985 and never had had a Derby starter; owner Rick Dawson, an Oklahoma-based businessman who nearly quit the sport before connecting with Reed; and jockey Sonny Leon, a native of Venezuela who rides regularly in Ohio and also was competing in the Derby for the first time. It was reminiscent of the upset of late-running Mine That Bird in 2009, but that horse had Derby regular Calvin Borel aboard, and was a quaint 50-1. This was even more improbable. In seven prior starts, Rich Strike owned one win, in a maiden claimer last September at Churchill Downs, from which Reed and Dawson claimed him for $30,000 off trainer Joe Sharp. Rich Strike had lost five straight since then, including in four straight stakes races. He was fifth, beaten 14 lengths by Epicenter, in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds in December. He then made three straight starts on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park, most recently finishing third behind Derby longshots Tiz the Bomb and Tawny Port in the Jeff Ruby. When 22 horses were entered in the Derby on Monday, Rich Strike was 21st on the points list, and thus was placed on the also-eligible list, assigned number 21. He didn’t get in until scratch time Friday morning, when trainer D. Wayne Lukas decided to withdraw Ethereal Road. If that doesn’t happen, Rich Strike doesn’t run in the Derby. Run he did. Despite starting from the outside post in the field of 20, Rich Strike got a gorgeous trip under Leon, their quest aided by a radioactive pace – including the fastest opening quarter in the race’s history -- that set it up for a late runner. Moments after the race, the tote board lit up like a Christmas tree. Rich Strike paid $163.60 to win, second only to the $184.90 that Donerail paid in 1913. The $2 exacta of Rich Strike over Epicenter, the 4-1 favorite, paid $4,101.20. The 50-cent trifecta of Rich Strike over Epicenter over Zandon, the 6-1 third choice, paid $7,435.35. And the $1 superfecta, with 35-1 shot Simplification fourth, paid $321,500.10. “I fell down when they hit the wire,” Reed said. “This is why everybody does this.” Reed, 57, has had to build his business back up following a tragic barn fire in December 2016 at the Mercury Equine Center, in Lexington, Ky., that claimed 23 of his horses. Dawson has been one of his loyal supporters in recent years. “He’s the reason I’m in the business,” Dawson said. “I was ready to get out. I was disenchanted.” Dawson said that after being introduced to Reed by a mutual friend, he decided: “I like this guy. I’m going to give it another shot.” “This is the most unbelievable day ever,” Dawson said. Reed, who has trained 1,444 winners, had one previous graded stakes winner, which is one more than Leon, 32, who has won 769 races in this country since arriving from Venezuela in 2015. He rides regularly at Mahoning Valley and Belterra Park, owning riding titles at both. On Friday, Leon warmed up for his big Derby Day by riding five horses at Belterra, none of whom won. Rich Strike was his only mount Saturday. Among riders in North America, Leon finished 11th in wins last year with 226. Joel Rosario, who rode Epicenter, finished 10th with 228 winners. Rosario’s mounts last year earned $32,956,215, and he won the Eclipse Award. Leon’s mounts earned $3,736,558. On Saturday, Leon beat Rosario and 18 other riders with a ride that looked like he’d been competing in the Derby his whole life. “Sonny got us here,” Reed said. “He knows the horse.” Leon was able to angle over coming through the lane the first time as Summer Is Tomorrow and, improbably, the Japanese invader Crown Pride set off at a blistering pace, 21.78 seconds for the opening quarter, the fastest in the race’s history. That pace was relentless. Summer Is Tomorrow continued to lead narrowly after a half in 45.36 seconds. He began his retreat before reaching the half-mile pole, at which point Messier poked his head in front. Epicenter, wisely rated behind that early pace, advanced from eighth a half-mile into the race and hit the front with a quarter-mile remaining. Messier and Crown Pride were beginning to backpedal, and then Zandon, who had waited briefly in traffic while following Epicenter on the far turn, swung out and went on the attack. Epicenter and Zandon edged away from their rivals in upper stretch, and with a furlong remaining Epicenter led by a length, with Zandon trying to close the gap. Farther back, Rich Strike was rolling. After getting to the two path around the first turn, he raced outside Mo Donegal down the backside, but was still in front of only two horses with three furlongs to go. Rich Strike followed Taiba initially on the far turn while in the three path, and then Leon ducked him to the inside nearing the quarter pole. Rich Strike was motoring. He had to come around a tiring Messier at midstretch, then closed fastest of all and went by Epicenter so quickly that Epicenter seemed to duck out, as though he was startled that a horse was coming by him that quickly. Rich Strike continued to gallop out like a wild horse. “He didn’t want to stop,” Leon said. “Tough horse.” Rich Strike won by three-quarters of a length, with Epicenter three-quarters of a length in front of Zandon. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! Simplification was fourth and was followed, in order, by Mo Donegal, Barber Road, Tawny Port, Smile Happy, Tiz the Bomb, Zozos, Classic Causeway, Taiba, Crown Pride, Happy Jack, Messier, White Abarrio, Charge It, Cyberknife, Pioneer of Medina, and Summer Is Tomorrow. Ethereal Road and the also-eligible Rattle N Roll were the scratches from the 22 entered Monday. Rich Strike covered 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track in 2:02.61. He earned $1.86 million from an overall race purse of $3 million, and received a Beyer Speed Figure of 101. Rich Strike is a colt by Keen Ice out of the Smart Strike mare Gold Strike. He was bred by historic Calumet Farm, which now has bred a record 10 Derby winners, though this was the first since Strike the Gold in 1991, and the first since Brad Kelley has owned the farm, which in its glory years of the 1940s and 1950s was owned by the Markey family. Calumet’s connection was the only seemingly normal aspect to this Derby, the first since 2019 to be run without restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the result, like when Mine That Bird won, resonates through the sport. All anyone who owns, trains, or rides wants is a chance. Rich Strike, Reed, Dawson, and Leon all got that chance, barely, and they made the most of it. - additional reporting by Nicole Russo