In a heart-pounding climax at Churchill Downs, Mystik Dan emerged triumphant in the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby, narrowly edging out Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a thrilling three-horse photo finish.

Piloted by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan defied the odds, entering the race at 18-1. With a gutsy performance, the duo maintained a slight lead along the rail down the stretch, facing relentless pressure from Sierra Leone, the 9-2 second choice, and Forever Young from Japan.

The intensity of the race was matched by the crowd’s anticipation, as 156,710 spectators anxiously awaited the stewards’ review to confirm the outcome. For Hernandez, the moments of uncertainty felt like an eternity, describing it as the longest few minutes of my life.

Fierceness, the favorite at 3-1 odds, failed to live up to expectations, finishing in 15th place among the field of 20 three-year-olds.

Notably, Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had tasted victory the previous day in the Kentucky Oaks for fillies with Thorpedo Anna, marking a remarkable back-to-back triumph for the duo.

Mystik Dan covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34, delivering surprising returns with a payout of $39.22 for a win, $16.32 for place, and $10 for show. Sierra Leone, valiant in defeat, returned $6.54 and $4.64, while Forever Young, just a nose behind, paid $5.58 to show.

Despite Sierra Leone’s lugging in and bumping Forever Young multiple times in the stretch, no foul claim was made by jockey Ryusei Sakai, solidifying Mystik Dan’s victory in one of the tightest finishes witnessed since 1996.

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