Mystik Dan Wins 150th Kentucky Derby in Thrilling Photo Finish
In an extraordinary photo finish, Mystik Dan emerged victorious at the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Mystik Dan entered the 20-horse race with 18-1 odds.
Sent off at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a short lead. Sierra Leone, the second choice at 9-2 odds, and Forever Young from Japan gave chase and pressured the leader to the wire in front of 156,710 at Churchill Downs.
It was just the 10th Kentucky Derby decided by a nose — the closest margin in horse racing — and the first since Grindstone wore the garland of red roses in 1996.
The crowd waited several minutes before the result was reviewed by the stewards and declared official.
"The longest few minutes of my life," Hernandez said, after he and the bay colt walked in circles while the stunning result was settled. "To see your number flash up to win the Derby, I don't think it will sink in for a while."
Fierceness, the 3-1 favorite, finished 15th in the field of 20 3-year-olds.
Mystik Dan is set to take home a hefty $3.1 million from the record-breaking $5 million purse of the race. The purse will be divided among the top five finishers, with the runner-up receiving $1 million, third place getting $500,000, fourth place earning $250,000, and fifth place taking home $150,000.
Running 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34, Mystik Dan paid out at $39.22 for the win, with payouts of $16.32 and $10 for second and third place, respectively.
Trainer Kenny McPeek, along with jockey Hernandez, celebrated their recent success in the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna. McPeek's rare accomplishment of sweeping both races hasn't been seen since Ben Jones did it back in 1952.
McPeek's previous surprise victory in a Triple Crown race was with 70-1 long shot Sarava, who won the 2002 Belmont Stakes, spoiling War Emblem's shot at the Triple Crown.
In the recent race, Sierra Leone paid out at $6.54 and $4.64, with Forever Young finishing third and returning $5.58 to show. Despite some interference in the stretch, jockey Ryusei Sakai chose not to file a foul claim.
