At odds of 18-1, Mystic Dan pipped Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the 150th edition of the race on Saturday in Louisville. By Chuck Culpepper. Today we will discuss about Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby: PHOTO FINISH.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby: PHOTO FINISH
Mystic Dan holds off a three-horse photo finish by a nose to win the 150th Kentucky Derby.
The 18-1 shot ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. scored a thrilling victory in front of 156,710 fans at Churchill Downs, with Sierra Leone in second and Forever Young slightly behind.
It took several minutes for managers to confirm the result.
“Those were the longest few minutes of my life,” Hernandez said. “Seeing your number flash to win the derby.
“I don’t think it’ll calm down for a while. It’s a dream come true.”
Pre-race favorite Fierceness was among the early pace setters, but as they weakened, Mystic Dan climbed onto the inside rail to take the lead on the turn for home.
Sierra Leone and Forever Young almost pushed him back but Mystic Dan held on.
This was the 10th time the race was decided by a nose and the first since 1996.
It was also the second win of the weekend for Hernandez Jr. and trainer Kenny McPeek, who teamed him to victory in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks on Thorpedo Anna.
“For three weeks, I felt like we were going to win both races,” McPeek said.
“I can’t tell you why. Both horses are easy to deal with, the team has done such a good job every day. There has been no drama.
“I just believe in mojo, in positive energy and we’ve got a lot of that.”
PHOTO FINISH
Mystic Dan won the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Fla., on Saturday afternoon. The winning time was 2:03.34.
He scored victories over Sierra Leone and Forever Young in photo finishes. As the three horses headed down the field, the crowd at Churchill Downs roared and then fell silent as no one could tell who won the race by a nose.
Mystic Dan is trained by Kenneth McPeek and driven by Brian Hernandez. Both trainer and jockey also won Friday’s Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna. McPeek is the first trainer to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same weekend since Ben Jones accomplished the feat in 1952. Entering Friday, neither McPeek nor Hernandez had ever won the Kentucky Oaks or the Kentucky Derby.
Mystic Dan, who had entered the race at odds of 18–1, took the lead around the final turn and lost his lead in the final furlong, but held on to win. Betting favorite Fierceness (3-1) ultimately finished in 15th place after a strong start.
Winning the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 4 holds extra significance for Lance Gassaway, one of Mystic Dan’s owners, whose father died a year ago today.
“For me, it’s for him,” Gassaway said. “Dad would have liked it. He loved sports.”
“My horse was going so smoothly, it never felt like we were going that fast,” Hernandez said. “I was just smiling the whole time. It’s an amazing feeling when you have a horse underneath you and you know they are going to move forward and forward and forward.
A $2 win bet on Mystic Dan pays $39.22. A $2 bet on Mystic Dane and Sierra Leone pays out $258.56.
Full results with final betting odds set before the race
Mystic Dan (18-1)
Sierra Leone (9-2)
Forever Young (6-1)
Achieving Freedom (8-1)
TO PASSWORD (48-1)
Flexibility (32-1)
Citadel (35-1)
Honor Marie (15-1)
Endless (48-1)
Dornoch (22-1)
Track Phantom (40-1)
West Saratoga (22-1)
Domestic Products (27-1)
EPIC RIDE (47-1)
Fury (3-1)
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