Kentucky Derby 2024: Mystik Dan wins by a nose

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The a hundred and fiftieth Kentucky Derby produced probably the most dramatic finishes in its storied historical past — three noses on the wire.

Mystik Dan desperately fought to hold on with two challengers coming to him within the closing strides. He did, too, after a delay of a number of minutes whereas the closest three-horse picture end since 1947 was sorted out.

That yr, Jet Pilot received by a head over Phalanx, who was one other head in entrance of Faultless.

This one was a lot tighter.

Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, edged Sierra Leone by a nostril, with Endlessly Younger one other nostril again in third on Saturday. Sierra Leone was the most costly horse within the race at $2.3 million.

Lengthy pictures Monitor Phantom and Simply Metal led the sphere via the early going, with 3-1 favourite Fierceness racing three-wide simply off the leaders.

On the high of the stretch, every little thing modified.

Monitor Phantom drifted off the rail, opening a gap that Hernandez squeezed Mystik Dan via, and the bay colt all of a sudden discovered one other gear. He rapidly opened up a daylight benefit on the sphere.

“When he shot via that spot, he was in a position to reduce the nook and I requested him to go for it,” Hernandez stated. “He shot off and I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’ve received a giant probability to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

To Mystik Dan’s outdoors, Sierra Leone and Endlessly Younger took up the chase in the midst of the observe.

As Mystik Dan sped alongside the rail, Sierra Leone lugged in and bumped Endlessly Younger thrice within the stretch, however jockey Ryusei Sakai didn’t declare foul.

Mystik Dan received so near the rail that Hernandez’s boot struck it.

“However I believe we will purchase one other pair of trainers,” he stated.

The winner’s share of the report $5 million purse was $3.1 million, with the jockey and coach usually incomes 10% every.

“Only a good, good, good jockey and trip,” McPeek stated. “Brian is among the most underrated jockeys, however not anymore, proper?”

Sierra Leone, the second alternative at 9-2 odds, and Endlessly Younger from Japan got here up simply quick on the wire in entrance of 156,710 at Churchill Downs, the biggest crowd since 2018.

“You get beat a nostril within the Kentucky Derby, it’s a tricky one,” stated Chad Brown, coach of Sierra Leone. “However I’m so happy with the horse.”

It was simply the tenth Kentucky Derby determined by a nostril — the closest margin in horse racing — and the primary since Grindstone edged Cavonnier to put on the garland of purple roses in 1996.

The gang waited a number of minutes within the warmth and humidity because the end result was reviewed by the stewards and declared official.

“The longest jiffy of my life,” Hernandez stated, after he and Mystik Dan walked in circles whereas the beautiful end result was settled. “To see your quantity flash as much as win the Derby, I don’t assume it’ll sink in for some time.”

Fierceness completed fifteenth within the area of 20 3-year-olds. Proprietor Mike Repole is 0 for 8 within the derby. He had the favourite in 2011 with Uncle Mo, who was scratched the day earlier than the race with an sickness. Final yr, Forte was scratched the morning of the race as the favourite with a bruised foot.

Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles over a quick observe in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22, $16.32 and $10.

Hernandez and coach Kenny McPeek had teamed for a wire-to-wire win within the Kentucky Oaks for fillies on Friday with Thorpedo Anna. McPeek is the primary coach to brush each races since Ben Jones in 1952.

McPeek’s solely different victory in a Triple Crown race was additionally a shocker: 70-1 Sarava received the 2002 Belmont Stakes — the most important upset in that race’s historical past. The colt spoiled the Triple Crown bid of Battle Emblem.

The successful homeowners are cousins Lance and Brent Gasaway and Daniel Hamby III, all from Arkansas. They bred Mystik Dan.

“We’ve completed it with what I name working-class horse,” McPeek stated, explaining the colt’s sire and dam weren’t huge names.

Sharilyn Gasaway, Brent’s spouse, stated, “It’s surreal for certain. We really feel like we’re simply strange individuals and we’ve received a tremendous horse.”

Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64. Endlessly Younger was one other nostril again in third and paid $5.58 to point out.

Catching Freedom was fourth, adopted by T O Password of Japan, Resilience, Stronghold, Honor Marie and Endlessly. Dornoch was tenth after which got here Monitor Phantom, West Saratoga, Home Product, Epic Journey, Fierceness, Society Man, Simply Metal, Grand Mo the First, Catalytic and Only a Contact.

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