Mystik Dan’s Triumph: A New Chapter in the History of the Kentucky Derby
Mystik Dan, a bay colt, was not the crowd’s first choice. With odds of 18-1, many spectators and pundits might have overlooked him. However, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and Mystik Dan proved that odds are just numbers. They led the race, maintaining a slim lead while riding the rail down the final stretch.
Hot on their heels were Sierra Leone, the second favorite with 9-2 odds, and Forever Young from Japan. Both horses gave a spirited chase, pressuring Mystik Dan all the way to the wire. This thrilling spectacle unfolded before an audience of 156,710 at Churchill Downs, adding to the electrifying atmosphere.
The finish was so close that it was only the 10th Kentucky Derby decided by a nose, the smallest margin in horse racing. The last time such a finish occurred was in 1996, when Grindstone was adorned with a garland of red roses.
The crowd held its breath as the stewards reviewed the result. After several minutes that felt like an eternity, especially for Hernandez, the result was declared official. Mystik Dan was the champion of the 150th Kentucky Derby.
Hernandez later described the wait as “the longest few minutes of my life.” The joy of seeing his number flash up as the Derby winner was an experience he believed would take time to fully sink in.
Interestingly, Fierceness, the 3-1 favorite, finished 15th in the field of 20 3-year-olds. This goes to show that in horse racing, predictions and odds can often be defied.
Mystik Dan’s performance was impressive. He ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22, $16.32, and $10. This victory was not just a personal triumph for Mystik Dan and Hernandez, but also for their trainer, Kenny McPeek.
McPeek and Hernandez had previously teamed up for a win in the Kentucky Oaks for fillies with Thorpedo Anna. With Mystik Dan’s victory, McPeek became the first trainer to sweep both races since Ben Jones in 1952, making him the fourth ever to achieve this feat.
McPeek is no stranger to shocking victories. His only other win in a Triple Crown race was when 70-1 Sarava won the 2002 Belmont Stakes, spoiling the Triple Crown bid of War Emblem. This was the biggest upset in the race’s history.
In the end, Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64, finishing a nose behind Mystik Dan. Forever Young was another nose back in third and paid $5.58 to show. Despite some contact with Sierra Leone in the stretch, jockey Ryusei Sakai of Forever Young did not claim foul.
This race will be remembered for its thrilling finish and the emergence of a new star, Mystik Dan. It truly marked a new era in the history of the Kentucky Derby.