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WATCH: Aerial view reveals Rich Strike's amazing comeback in Kentucky Derby upset

by:Austin Brezina•05/07/22•

AustinBrezina59

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Photo by Gunnar Word/Getty Images

Rich Strike’s incredible win in the Kentucky Derby took an incredible finish, as an aerial view of the race shows his complete comeback victory. Coming into the final stretch of the race, Rich Strike was near the very back of the pack, well behind the race leaders.

With some tough racing through the middle of the pack, he found his way to the inside rail and a wide-open path to the finish line. Even with another horse nearly blocking him, he managed to pass Epicenter just before the end with incredible speed down the stretch.

Rich Strike wins Kentucky Derby off phenomenal finish

The aerial view of the race’s final turn and stretch gives a great look at how much ground Rich Strike had to make up to catch the leaders. As race-favorite Epicenter began his own move that put him in front of the pack, Rich Strike made a move of his own to fight through the middle. As the horses levelled out of the final turn, Rich Strike and jockey Sonny Leon saw the inside rail completely open up and took advantage.

With the pack no longer cluttering his way, Rich Strike accelerated past the rest of the field but was still slightly behind the leaders. As another horse waned in front of him, Rich Strike and his jockey veered outside of them to stay on pace, and Rich Strike found another speed to make up a distance of nearly four horse-lengths to take the victory.

Kentucky Derby ends with upset finish

In front of more than 100,000 spectators filling the stands and infield, the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby ended with remarkable longshot Rich Strike winning. The crowd began trickling in for the race early, helping the race recapture the special feel of a crowd that has been absent for the past three years.

They were treated to one of the most incredible upset wins in the history of racing. Rich Strike entered the race with 80-1 odds and didn’t appear in contention until the final stretch. With race-favorite Epicenter taking the lead down the stretch, it appeared to be his race — before Rich Strike’s dramatic finish down the stretch. The finish was the second-largest longshot victory in the history of the Derby, second only to Donerail’s winning of the 1913 Kentucky Derby at 91-1 odds.