Tag: Triple Crown

Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan wins in a photo finish by a nose in close 3 horse finale

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Sierra Leone with jockey Tyler Gaffalione (2), Forever Young with jockey Ryusei Sukai, and Mystik Dan with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr at the finish line at Churchill Downs in the 150th Kentucky Derby Race at Louisville Kentucky on Sat May 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby was won by a nose by Mystik Dan in a spectacular photo finish on Saturday evening that was one of the most exhilarating in recent memory. Entering at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan crossed the finish line just before Sierra Leone and Forever Young, who finished third in the Run for the Roses.

Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. dashed along the rail and had a short lead while head-on with Sierra Leone and undefeated Japan-bred Forever Young.

Sierra Leone bumped Forever Young three times during the critical stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai did not claim foul. “Around the far turn, my horse was so game being up on the inside,” recounted Hernandez. “I came through a really tight spot and we kind of climbed up on top of the rail a bit. When he shot through that spot and was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it, he shot off. I was like, ‘Oh man, we have a shot to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

The crowd of 156,710 at Churchill Downs were held in suspense for afew minutes as stewards reviewed the finish – and finally announced Mystik Dan as the official winner. “This is unbelievable,” said Hernandez while still mounted on Mystik Dan after the thrilling finish. “That was the longest few minutes I’ve ever felt in my life, waiting for them to hang that number up… It’s hard to put into words.”

Mystik Dan ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03:34 and paid $39.22 to win. It was the 26th time in the history of the legendary race that it was decided by the length of a neck or shorter. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had won the Kentucky Oaks on Fridayalso at Churchill Downs.

They are the second tandem to win both. McPeek commended Hernandez on “an amazing job”. “I mean, just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey in-ride,” said McPeek even before the official decision was declared. “Brian’s amazing. Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing. But not anymore.”

Twenty thoroughbreds competed in the first leg of the Triple Crown, with Sierra Leone and Fierceness considered the early favorites. Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64, while Forever Young paid $5.58 to show. The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18.

Kentucky Derby 2024 final finishing order:

1. Mystik Dan

2. Sierra Leone

3. Forever Young

4. Catching Freedom

5. T O Password

6. Resilience

7. Stronghold

8. Honor Marie

9. Endlessly

10. Dornoch

11. Track Phantom

12. West Saratoga

13. Domestic Product

14. Epic Ride

15. Fierceness

16. Society Man

17. Just Steel

18. Grand Mo The First

19. Catalytic

20. Just a Touch

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Election has been decided Early Voting wins the Preakness

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Jose Ortiz atop Early Voting wins the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

A favorite among politicians, Early Voting won the 147th Preakness Stakes race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, Early Voting edged out the favorite, Epicenter, who came in second, and Creative Minister who took third. Early Voting followed the leaders for much of the running before taking first in the final turn and finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Epicenter. Epicenter came in second, just as he did in the Kentucky Derby.

Early Voting won five years after his trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klarman won the race with Cloud Computing.

“We thought he needed a little more seasoning, the extra rest would help him,” said Klarman. “He was pretty lightly raced – only three races before today. And as it turned out, that was the right call. We wanted to do right by the horse, and we’re so glad we waited.”

Early Voting, with a 1:54:54 winning time, paid $13.40, $4.60 and $3.60. Meanwhile, Epicenter paid $2.80 and $2.40. Creative Minister paid $4.20.

Early Voting’s team originally planned for him to try to take the lead. However, when Armagnac took the lead held Early Voting back as Epicenter ran inside the rail.

“I was never worried. Once we had a good target, I actually preferred that,” said Brown.

“We were fine to go to the lead, but I thought down the back side it was going to take a good horse to beat us. And a good horse did run up on us near the wire and it was about the only one that could run with us.”

It is Early Voting’s third win in four career races taking the $900,000 winner’s share of the $1.65 million purse.

“Early Voting is the winner of the Preakness and deserves all the credit for doing so, and nothing but,” Epicenter’s trainer Steve Asmussen said.

The final race of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, takes place on June 11.

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