Kentucky’s legendary Churchill Downs racetrack witnessed an unforgettable spectacle during the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, 2024. It was an electrifying moment, a testament to the enduring thrill of horse racing, as three horses crossed the finish line simultaneously in the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947.
Mystik Dan, piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr., showed steely resolve, fending off the spirited charge from two rivals in the final stages of the ‘Run for the Roses.’ It was a battle to the finish that took several breathless minutes to resolve, ratcheting up pressure and anticipation to a fever pitch. The last time horse racing aficionados experienced such a suspenseful finish was when Jet Pilot triumphed by a head over Phalanx and Faultless in 1947. However, the 150th Kentucky Derby was even more hair-raising in comparison.
The drama unfolded as the dark horse Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, and Forever Young with jockey Ryusei Sakai made a beeline for the finish line. Mystik Dan emerged victorious in a verdict that went down to the wire. This 18-1 shot beat the most expensive horse in the race, Sierra Leone, priced at a whopping $2.3 million, by a nose. Forever Young also finished lose at the heels in the captivating climax on Saturday afternoon.
The beginning of the race painted a different picture altogether. Track Phantom and Just Steel took an early lead in the competition, with the favorite Fierceness not too far off. However, the tables turned approaching the final furlong. Track Phantom swerved slightly off the rail, a move that Hernandez capitalized on, maneuvering Mystik Dan into the lead. Never missing a stride, the bay colt stretched his lead over the rest of the competition.
However, the race was far from over. Sierra Leone and Forever Young launched a formidable pursuit in the middle of the track, with Sierra Leone pushing his boundaries. The horse veered in and bumped Forever Young thrice in the stretch. Jockey Ryusei Sakai, however, didn’t pursue a claim foul.
Mystik Dan’s victory attributed to the sheer grit displayed by the horse and Hernandez’s unyielding resolve. In the intensity of the climax, the rider’s boot brushed against the rail, a trifling matter according to Hernandez in light of the triumphant outcome. They won the winner’s share of a record $5 million purse; $3.1 million went their way.
However, no triumph is complete without a fair share of angst. As the stewards labored over the results, the audience waited in pin-drop silence. Hernandez expressed his relief when the final verdict declared Mystik Dan as the winner of the Kentucky Derby. And even though it took an agonizing few minutes, the entire experience was, as Hernandez mused, one that would take ages to fully sink in.
Unfortunately, the Derby wasn’t as well-favored for Fierceness, who finished 15th out of twenty 3-year-olds. For its owner Mike Repole, it was the eighth start at winning the Derby but without any success. The race ended on a high note for Mystik Dan’s owners; Arkansas natives cousins Lance and Brent Gasaway and Daniel Hamby III, who also bred the champion horse.
The 150th Kentucky Derby, therefore, would be remembered as a thrilling tale of glory, grit, and unrelenting determination. One where Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young fought an exciting triad duel, capturing the timeless essence of horseracing as we know it today.