Rich Strike will not participate in the preakness stakes 2022 in Maryland next weekend after his upset to win the Kentucky Derby.

Rich Strike's owner Rick Dawson said this before 10 days of the contest in Maryland. Dawson and instructor Eric Reed settled to join with the plan.

The plan is to get extra rest and have champion Rich Strike prepared to participate in the Belmont Stakes which will happen on June 11 in New York.

The decision to skip the Preakness by Rich Strike seems strange, but not completely surprising.

With the departure of Rich Strike, the Preakness will take place without the official Derby winner