In a rare photo finish, Mystik Dan emerged victorious on the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday night at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Mystik Dan entered the 20-horse race with 18-1 odds.Â
Mystik Dan will earn $3.1 million from a complete purse of $5 million, the biggest purse in the race’s historical past. The purse can be break up among the many high 5 finishers in the Derby, with $3.1 million for the winner, $1 million for the runner-up, $500,000 for third place, $250,000 for fourth place and $150,000 for fifth place.
Kiichiro Sato / AP
Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a brief lead. Forever Young from Japan and Sierra Leone gave chase and pressured the chief to the wire in entrance of 156,710 at Churchill Downs.
The crowd waited a number of minutes earlier than the outcome was reviewed by the stewards and declared official.
Hernandez and coach Kenny McPeek had teamed to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies on Friday with Thorpedo Anna.
Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22 to win. Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64. Forever Young was one other nostril again in third and paid $5.58 to point out. Sierra Leone lugged in and bumped Forever Young 3 times in the stretch, however jockey Ryusei Sakai did not declare foul.
Alex Sundby contributed reporting.