The 150th Kentucky Derby was a thriller. It produced one of the best finishes in its long history with three horses crossing at the same time for a photo finish. At the end it would be Mystik Dan that would hold the field off. It was just the 10th Kentucky Derby decided by a nose, the closest margin in horse racing and the first since Grindstone edged Cavonnier to wear the garland of red roses in 1996.
WOW. 😱
Mystik Dan WINS the 150th Kentucky Derby in a PHOTO FINISH! pic.twitter.com/N2jfd2TsKe
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2024
Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, edged Sierra Leone by a nose, with Forever Young another nose back in third on Saturday. Sierra Leone was the most expensive horse in the race at $2.3 million. Derby favorite Fierceness who was a 3-1 favorite finished 15th in the field.
“The longest few minutes of my life,” Hernandez said, after he and Mystik Dan 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.”
“Just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey and ride,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “Brian is one of the most underrated jockeys, but not anymore, right?”
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
