Kentucky Derby: Mage Wins 149th Running $3 Million Race

Mage won the Kentucky Derby by beating Two Phil’s and favorite Angel Of Empire on Saturday night.

About 150,000 fans came to Churchill Downs, Louisville, to witness the 149th running of the $3 million race.

The main event was overshadowed by the deaths of seven horses leading up to the first race of the Triple Crown.

Mage took just one win before running 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.57 under jockey Javier Castellano. The three-year-old colt is being trained by Gustavo Delgado.

Mage was at the back of the field at the start of the Kentucky Derby, but always rode well.

Javier Castellano beams with joy after winning the Kentucky Derby on his 16th attempt

Castellano kisses the Kentucky Derby trophy in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs

Bidding his time, Castellano pulled him wide to make a challenge in the corner.

Mage countered and made a foot move to challenge Two Phil’s and kicked on with one more city to go.

Winning rider Castellano said after the win, “I never give up. I always try to do the right thing. I am blessed.’

Trainer Delgado told NBC, “I still can’t believe it, I’ve lost my words. It’s a great feeling. I have my whole family here,” he told NBC.

‘Sometimes you have to follow your intuition, your guts, sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t.

“When he started making his move, I felt confident.

“I just knew it was a sustained move.”

Rider Castellano celebrates aboard Mage after the pair win the Kentucky Derby in Louisville

The Hall of Fame jockey broke a 0-for-15 slip in the Derby. Both he and Delgado are from Venezuela.

Forte, the early favourite, was scratched in the morning with a bruised foot, one of five horses to retire in the days leading up to the race.

Mage paid $32.42, $14.58, and $9.08.

Two Phils netted $10.44 and $6.52 at odds of 9-1. Angel of Empire paid $4.70 to show.