In a result that defied all odds, Mystik Dan, a massive 16-1 longshot, seized an improbable victory at the 150th Kentucky Derby, leaving the crowd of 156,000 in absolute shock. The three-year-old colt surged down the final stretch, edging out Sierra Leone (5-1) and Forever Young (6-1) in a thrilling photo finish that left spectators speechless.
The race began with Fierceness (7-2), the betting favorite, bursting out to an early commanding lead at the quarter pole. However, the promising start was short-lived as the horse faded down the stretch, ultimately finishing a disappointing 15th.
Trainer Kenneth McPeek, who became the first to win both the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks in the same weekend since 1952, heaped praise on jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. for his masterful ride. “Brian just did an amazing job,” McPeek exclaimed. “Just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey and ride. The draw helped us from the beginning. We talked about that.”
The result underwent a brief review before being declared official, a tense moment that left Hernandez anxiously waiting. “Those were the longest few minutes of my life,” the jockey admitted. “To see your number flash up to win the Derby, I don’t think it will sink in for a while.”
As the race unfolded, the lead changed hands multiple times, with Mystik Dan surging to the front down the inner rail before maintaining the slimmest of leads down the stretch. Hernandez recounted the decisive moment: “When he shot through that spot, he was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it. He shot off and I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’ve got a big chance to win the Kentucky Derby.'”
The victory marked a career Triple Crown for McPeek, who had previously secured wins at the 2020 Preakness Stakes and the 2002 Belmont Stakes. With a record-breaking guaranteed $5 million purse, Mystik Dan claimed an impressive $3.1 million, surpassing the previous $3 million purse in place since 2019.
Catching Freedom (8-1) finished fourth, while T O Password (47-1) secured fifth place. As the attention turns to the Preakness Stakes on May 18, Mystik Dan will attempt to complete the second leg of a potential triple crown, riding high on the momentum of this historic upset victory at Churchill Downs.
