Mystik Dan Slightly Considered marked an exciting turnaround in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, winning by a margin and bringing a career Triple Crown to trainer Kenny McPeek.
Train-riding Mystik Dan stuck his nose in front of second favorite Sierra Leone and Forever Young for the dramatic three-horse victory in a photo finish that took several minutes to contest.
He was listed at 20-1 on the morning line and fans showed a little more faith in him, backing him to 18-1 early.
“I wasn’t sure we won,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. told NBC Sports shortly after the race. “So it was a rush to sit here and wait for it.”
Mystik Dan arrived at the Derby with a relatively weak resume that included a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby and a victory in the South West Grade III Stakes.
It was the first Derby triumph for McPeek and Hernandez. McPeek had previously trained the filly Swiss Skydiver, the 2020 Preakness StakIt is champion, and Sarava, long-distance winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes.
The Derby win capped a remarkable 24 hours for McPeek and Hernandez, who teamed up with Thorpedo Anna to win the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.
McPeek was effusive in his praise of Hernandez and his trip.
“Just a jockey and a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant ride,” the trainer said. “Brian is amazing.”
Mystik Dan may have benefited from Sierra Leone and Forever Young crashing several times in the home stretch as they desperately tried to unseat the leader and eventual winner.
“A lot of times it’s a game of inches,” Sierra Leone coach Chad Brown said.
Brown said he was pleased with his horse’s race on Saturday, despite coming up short on the nose.
“I am very proud of your effort today. The horse did everything we asked,” Brown said. “It was just a little short.”
Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown mission will continue on May 18 with the 149th edition of Baltimore Preakness Stakes.
Before Saturday’s 12th race got underway at Churchill Downs, celebrities and big hats filled the clubhouse, grandstands and paddock beneath Louisville’s famous twin towers.
Wynonna Judd sang the national anthem, leading a group of bold names from the entertainment world, such as Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Tucker, Kid Rock, Jack Harlow, Jimmy Fallon, Travis Tritt, Josh Groban, Holly Robinson Peete and Richie Sambora.
Lifestyle expert Martha Stewart and football figures Travis Kelce, Aaron Rodgers, Jameis Winston, Isiah Pacheco and Emmitt Smith were also in attendance.
Derby day also included a number of other big-money races.
Shot in the dark, Trikari came together for a thrilling and surprising victory in the American Turf Stakes. The 47-1 underdog overtook favorite Formidable Man in the final strides of the $600,000 race.
Gun Pilot cruised to victory in the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes, adding to trainer Steve Asmussen’s long winning resume.
Program Trading edged out Naval Power to dramatically win the $1 million Turf Classic Stakes.
Seize The Gray won the $600,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes.
Chili Flag took the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turk Miles Stakes.
Vahva recovered late to win the $100,000 Derby City Distaff.
Cogburn raced to victory in the $600,000 Turf Sprint Stakes.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
