Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby

Reed Sheppard nailed it — shocker, right? Mystik Dan is your Kentucky Derby winner, just as the former Wildcat star predicted leading up to the race at Churchill Downs.

And it happened to be one of the most exciting races in Derby history, down to the wire and a true photo finish with a trio of horses neck-and-neck-and-neck with the winner separated by a matter of inches.

You couldn’t make it closer if you tried, the first Kentucky Derby decided by a nose since 1996.

At the wire! Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby. pic.twitter.com/2aiutu2mWz
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 4, 2024

May 4, 2024; Louisville, KY, USA; Mystik Dan (right) wins the Kentucky Derby in a photo finish at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger-USA TODAY Sports

May 4, 2024; Louisville, KY, USA; Mystic Dan, (right) ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Matt Stone-USA TODAY Sports

SO CLOSE!

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. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/Nu0CWxp3vM
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 4, 2024

Mystik Dan pulled off the win with an official time of

Mystik Dan raced the Kentucky Derby in a winning time of 2:03.34, followed by Sierra Leone, Forever Young, Catching Freedom and T O Password to round out the top five. Brian Hernandez Jr. was the jockey while Lexington’s own Kenny McPeek earned the victory as the trainer.

McPeek also trained Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna, making him the first trainer to sweep the Derby and Oaks since 1952, Ben Jones last accomplishing the feat with Real Delight and Hill Gail. The graduate of Tates Creek High School earned his first Derby win in historic fashion.

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“I’m really proud of that, what are you gonna do?” McPeek said of the win. “You just take one horse at a time and we’re very fortunate.”

Mystik Dan in a THRILLING photo finish to win the G1 Kentucky Derby! #KyDerby

pic.twitter.com/TqfrHOsHZQ
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 4, 2024

MYSTIK DAN 🌹 Walking down the turf, towards the winner’s circle, as the winner of the 150th GI @KentuckyDerby 🏆

A memorable Oaks-Derby double for @KennyMcPeek & @b_hernandezjr. pic.twitter.com/2oX52maV5q
— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2024

And here’s McPeek and Hernandez with Mystik Dan and the Garland of Roses.

It’s an Oaks and Derby double for @b_hernandezjr and @KennyMcPeek!

Mystic Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby!

🌹🌹🌹 pic.twitter.com/NuAfJqr2K8
— America'sBestRacing (@ABRLive) May 4, 2024

The winner going off at 18-1 odds at the gate, a $2 exacta with Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone paid out an impressive $258.56 while a $1 trifecta including Forever Young paid out a whopping $1,113.84.

Reed Sheppard said on the red carpet before the race he pulled Mystik Dan out of a hat and was rolling with the No. 3 horse to win at his first Kentucky Derby.