Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in 3-horse photo finish at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby successful a three-horse photograph finish, edging retired Sierra Leone by a chemoreceptor with Forever Young 3rd successful the tightest decorativeness since 1996 connected Saturday.

Sent disconnected astatine 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the obstruction down the agelong with a abbreviated lead. Sierra Leone, the 2nd prime astatine 9-2 odds, and Forever Young from Japan gave pursuit and pressured the person to the ligament successful beforehand of 156,710 astatine Churchill Downs.

It was conscionable the 10th Kentucky Derby decided by a chemoreceptor - the closest borderline successful equine racing - and the archetypal since Grindstone wore the garland of reddish roses successful 1996.

The assemblage waited respective minutes earlier the effect was reviewed by the stewards and declared official.

"The longest fewer minutes of my life," Hernandez said, aft helium and the bay colt walked successful circles portion the stunning effect was settled. "To spot your fig flash up to triumph the Derby, I don't deliberation it volition descend successful for a while."

Fierceness, the 3-1 favorite, finished 15th successful the tract of 20 3-year-olds.

Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles successful 2:03.34 and paid $39.22, $16.32 and $10.

Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed for a wire-to-wire triumph successful the Kentucky Oaks for fillies connected Friday with Thorpedo Anna. McPeek is the archetypal trainer to expanse some races since Ben Jones successful 1952 and the 4th overall.

McPeek's lone different triumph successful a Triple Crown contention was besides a shocker: 70-1 Sarava won the 2002 Belmont Stakes - the biggest upset successful that race's history. The colt spoiled the Triple Crown bid of War Emblem.

Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64. Forever Young was different chemoreceptor backmost successful 3rd and paid $5.58 to show.

Sierra Leone lugged successful and bumped Forever Young 3 times successful the stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai didn't assertion foul.