Kentucky Derby 2024 Winner: Kenneth McPeek's Mystik Dan Celebration, Reaction
May 4, 2024
The 150th Kentucky Derby contained a photo finish, as a wild race left many unable to tell which horse crossed the finish line first.
In the end, Mystik Dan and jockey jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. secured a hard-fought victory. Trainer Kenneth McPeek became the first to win the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the same year since 1952 (h/t Tyler Greever of WDRB Kentucky).
Mystik Dan entered the race with 20-1 odds to win.
After the race, McPeek gave credit to Hernandez for his performance.
"Brian just did an amazing job," he said. "I mean, just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey and ride."
"Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing, but not anymore," he added.
When asked about his accomplishment of winning the Oaks and the Derby in the same year, McPeek responded to say that he was "really proud of that."
McPeek was able to secure the impressive accomplishment after 3-year-old horse Thorpedo Anna finished in first place at the Oaks on Friday. The trainer expressed his confidence in both horses ahead of the weekend.
"It wouldn't surprise me if I won both of them," McPeek said on Tuesday, per C.L. Brown of the Louisville Courier Journal. "I'm that confident."
With Mystik Dan's victory on Saturday, McPeek secured a career Triple Crown. Swiss Skydiver previously won the 2020 Preakness Stakes while McPeek won the Belmont Stakes with Sarava in 2002.
Mystik Dan is owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm.
After starting at gate No. 3, Mystik Dan maintained a narrow lead down the stretch before holding on for a tight first-place finish over Sierra Leone and Forever Young.
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>
Hernandez also earned the first Derby victory of his career.
"This is a lifetime achievement," he said after the win. "This goes to our whole family, we've all worked our lives all for this. It's hard to describe what kind of feeling this is. I always told myself I was never going to step into the Derby winner's circle until I can do it on the back of a horse."
"So now, to be able to live that dream when I was a six-year-old kid riding my bike around my grandparents' farm telling them all I was going to win the Kentucky Derby one day, and here we are," Hernandez added.
NBC Sports @NBCSports"This is a lifetime achievement."<br><br>Mystik Dan's jockey Brian Hernandez has been dreaming of winning the Kentucky Derby since he was six years old. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KyDerby?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KyDerby</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZIqWnEwKd4">pic.twitter.com/ZIqWnEwKd4</a>
Mystik Dan will now attempt to take the next step in earning a Triple Crown by winning the Preakness Stakes on May 18.