One of the tightest finishes in Kentucky Derby history punctuated the race’s 150th running as Mystik Dan just barely had his nose ahead to win the first leg of the American Triple Crown.
Second-betting favorite Sierra Leone had a late rush up the outside to try and stun the crowd of over 156,000 gathered at Churchill Downs.
Running in third was Forever Young, who was squeezed between Sierra Leone from the outside and Mystik Dan which was running on the rails.
This is trainer Kenny McPeek’s first Kentucky Derby win and his second career Triple Crown win after taking home the Preakness Stakes in 2020 with Swiss Skydiver.
Sent off at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a short lead.
Watch:
WOW. 😱
Mystik Dan WINS the 150th Kentucky Derby in a PHOTO FINISH! pic.twitter.com/N2jfd2TsKe
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2024
Ken McPeek, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, reflects on his second massive win of the weekend. 🏆 #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/dsrMlZLgQx
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2024
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.
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 bay colt walked in circles while the stunning result was settled.
Fierceness, the 3-1 favorite, finished 15th in the field of 20 3-year-olds.
Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed for a wire-to-wire win in the Kentucky Oaks for fillies on Friday with Thorpedo Anna.
