Kentucky Derby Results 2024: Mystik Dan Beats Sierra Leone in Epic Photo Finish
May 4, 2024
Mystik Dan won the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday in a photo finish over Sierra Leone.
Kentucky Derby @KentuckyDerbySO CLOSE!<br><br>The official photo finish of the Kentucky Derby. #3 Mystik Dan was first, #2 Sierra Leone was second, and #11 Forever Young (JPN) was third. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KyDerby?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KyDerby</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nu0CWxp3vM">pic.twitter.com/Nu0CWxp3vM</a>
One of the greatest finishes in Kentucky Derby history resulted in an 18-1 longshot taking the Triple Crown's first leg.
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan took control of the inside rail down the stretch. But a hard charge from Sierra Leone and Forever Young led to a remarkable end to the race.
Win/Place/Show Payouts (Based on $2 Bet)
Mystik Dan (3): $39.22 (Win), $16.32 (Place), $10.00 (Show) at 18-1 odds
Sierra Leone (2): $6.54 (Place), $4.64 (Show) at 9-2 ods
Forever Young (11): Show ($5.58) at 7-1 odds
Order of Finish
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
Going into the Kentucky Derby, four horses stood out above the rest.
Fierceness (at 7-2 odds), a Todd Pletcher-trained horse, entered the Run for the Roses as the clear pre-race favorite following a Florida Derby win by 13-and-a-half lengths. He also excelled at last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a win by six-and-a-quarter lengths.
Sierra Leone (5-1) was also near the top of the odds ledger after going 2-for-2 as a three-year-old with victories at the Risen Star Stakes and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
Forever Young (6-1) made the biggest move up the odds ledger from 10-1. The Japanese entrant has never lost in five starts, winning the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby this year.
Catching Freedom (8-1) found itself as one of the favorites following a Louisiana Derby victory, which saw him beat Derby entrants Honor Marie and Track Phantom.
However, it was Mystik Dan who won the day after a tremendous run.