Mystik Dan wins 2024 Kentucky Derby with 18-1 odds in photo finish

Calmly regarded Mystik Dan scored an exhilarating upset on the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, successful by a nostril and bringing a profession Triple Crown to coach Kenny McPeek.

Rail-riding Mystik Dan caught his snout in entrance of second favourite Sierra Leone and Eternally Younger for the dramatic three-horse photo-finish victory that took a number of minutes to hash out.

He was listed at 20-1 on the morning line and followers confirmed somewhat bit extra religion in him, betting him all the way down to 18-1 by the beginning.

“I wasn’t positive if we had gained,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. instructed NBC Sports activities shortly after the race. “So it was fairly a rush to take a seat right here and await it.”

Mystik Dan got here to Louisville with a comparatively skinny resume that included a third-place end on the Arkansas Derby and a win on the Grade III Southwest Stakes.

It was the primary Derby triumph for each McPeek and Hernandez. McPeek had beforehand skilled filly Swiss Skydiver, the 2020 Preakness Stakes champion, and Sarava, long-shot winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes.

The Derby win capped a outstanding 24 hours for McPeek and Hernandez, who teamed up with Thorpedo Anna to win the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.

McPeek effusively praised Hernandez and his journey.

“Only a good, good, good, jockey and journey,” the coach stated. “Brian’s superb.”

Mystik Dan coated the 1¼-mile course in 2:03.34.

The three-1 favourite, Fierceness, got here in fifteenth within the 20-horse discipline.

Hernandez, the son of a jockey and sibling of two different riders, recalled driving his bike as a 6-year-old, telling anybody who’d hear that sometime he’d be a Kentucky Derby-winning jockey.

“It is a lifetime achievement,” Hernandez stated. “This goes to our complete household.”

Mystik Dan might need benefited from Sierra Leone and Eternally Younger bumping a number of instances down the stretch as they desperately tried to down the chief and eventual winner.

“Oftentimes it’s a recreation of inches,” stated Chad Brown, Sierra Leone’s coach.

Brown stated he was happy together with his horse’s run Saturday, regardless of developing a nostril quick.

“I’m so happy with his effort right now. The horse did all the pieces we requested him to do,” Brown stated. “It simply got here up just a bit bit quick.”

Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown quest will proceed on Could 18 with the 149th working of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Earlier than Saturday’s twelfth race at Churchill Downs unfolded, celebrities and massive hats crammed the clubhouse, grandstands and paddock beneath Louisville’s famed twin spires.

Wynonna Judd carried out the nationwide anthem, main a secure of boldface names from the leisure world akin to Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Tucker, Child Rock, Jack Harlow, Jimmy Fallon, Travis Tritt, Josh Groban, Holly Robinson Peete and Richie Sambora.

Life-style maven Martha Stewart and soccer figures akin to dateless Travis Kelce, Aaron Rodgers, Jameis Winston, Isiah Pacheco and Emmitt Smith had been additionally in attendance.

Stewart gave the “riders up” name for jockeys to take their mounts.

The Derby day additionally included a number of different big-money races.

Lengthy shot Trikari rallied to an exhilarating upset victory within the American Turf Stakes. The 47-1 darkish horse roared previous favourite Formidable Man within the remaining strides of the $600,000 race.

Gun Pilot pulled away to victory on the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes, including to the lengthy successful resume of coach Steve Asmussen.

Program Buying and selling edged Naval Energy to dramatically win the $1 million Turf Basic Stakes.

Seize The Gray gained the $600,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes.

Chili Flag took the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turk Miles Stakes.

Vahva rallied late to win the $100,000 Derby Metropolis Distaff.

Cogburn raced to victory on the $600,000 Turf Dash Stakes.