The overlooked Mystic Dan pulled off a thrilling upset in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, winning by a nose and giving trainer Kenny McPeek a career Triple Crown.
Mystic Dan, riding the rail, stuck his nose out in front of the second favorites Sierra Leone and Forever Young and took a dramatic victory in a three-horse photo finish that took several minutes.
He was listed at 20-1 on the morning line, and fans showed a little more faith in him, betting him to 18-1 by start.
“I wasn’t sure I had won,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. told NBC Sports immediately after the race. “So it was quite a rush to sit here and wait.”
Mystic Dan comes into the Derby with a relatively short resume, having finished third in the Arkansas Derby and won the Grade III Southwest Stakes.
It was the first derby victory for McPeak and Hernandez. McPeak previously trained the filly Swiss Skydiver, winner of the 2020 Preakness Stakes, and Saraba, the long shot winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes.
The Derby victory capped off a remarkable 24 hours for McPeak and Hernandez, who teamed to win Friday’s Kentucky Oaks with Thorped Anna.
McPeak was full of praise for Hernandez and his run.
“It was just a great, great, great, great jockey and rider,” the trainer said. “Brian is amazing.”
Mystic Dan may have benefited from a few bumps along the way as Sierra Leone and Forever Young desperately tried to beat the leader and eventual winner.
“A lot of times it’s a matter of inches,” said Sierra Leone trainer Chad Brown.
Jockey Brown said he was pleased with his horse’s run on Saturday despite the short nose.
“I’m very proud of his effort today. The horse did everything we asked him to do,” Brown said. “It’s just a little shorter.”
Mystic Dan’s Triple Crown quest will continue at the 149th Preakness Stakes on May 18 in Baltimore.
Celebrities and big hats filled the clubhouse, bleachers and paddock beneath Louisville’s famous Twin Spiers before Saturday’s 12th race at Churchill Downs.
Wynonna Judd joins entertainment’s boldest stars, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Tucker, Kid Rock, Jack Harlow, Jimmy Fallon, Travis Tritt, Josh Groban, Holly Robinson Peete, and Richie Sambora. They led the group in singing the national anthem.
Also in attendance were lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and football players including undated Travis Kelce, Aaron Rodgers, Jameis Winston, Isaiah Pacheco and Emmitt Smith.
A number of other big money races were also held on Derby day.
Longshot Torikali scored a thrilling upset victory in the American Turf Stakes. The 47-1 dark horse blasted favorite Formidable Man in the final stretch of the $600,000 race.
Gun Pilot added to trainer Steve Asmussen’s long and winning resume with his victory in the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes.
Program Trading defeated Naval Power in a dramatic win in the $1 million Turf Classic Stakes.
Says the Gray won the $600,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes.
Chile Flag won the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turk Mile Stakes.
Verva fought back late to win the $100,000 Derby City Distaff.
Cogburn won the $600,000 Turf Sprint Stakes.
