Kentucky Derby 2024 Race Results

The Kentucky Derby, or “the Derby”, is an iconic horse race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and marks the inaugural leg of America’s Triple Crown series. Attracting millions of viewers each year, this crowd-pleasing race always proves popular with millions.

This year’s Kentucky Derby featured an exciting photo finish between Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young – check out their full results and payouts here!

Mystik Dan Wins by a Nose

Mystik Dan took home America’s premier horse race by just a hair, in one of the closest finishes ever witnessed at an American Derby. Riding for Brian Hernandez Jr. at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan narrowly defeated Sierra Leone and Forever Young to claim victory after an extended photo finish that took several minutes for stewards to decipher.

The Kentucky Derby, known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, takes place annually on the first Saturday in May and marks the opening leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown competition.

Ken McPeek won the Derby for a fourth time with Mystik Dan, an odds-on 20-1 shot who opened at 20-1 odds, earning him America’s Top Trainer Award once more. They had also taken first place with Thorpedo Anna the night before!

Sierra Leone Finishes Second

Sierra Leone finished only narrowly behind Mystik Dan. Riding Brian Hernandez Jr., Sierra Leone started near the back and had to widen in the lane before closing tandemly with Forever Young but wasn’t able to catch Mystik Dan on the line.

Sierra Leone was purchased at auction for $2.3 million. On his career debut at Aqueduct on November 4th he made an immediate impact, breaking his maiden and finishing second in both Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in December, then winning Risen Star Stakes two months later on February 17th before entering Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes with three graded stakes wins and enough Derby qualifying points to gain entry to Run for the Roses.

Trainer Chad Brown has been pleased with Sierra Leone’s progress this year and anticipates she is headed toward Louisville. Sierra Leone was sired by Gun Runner – one of 2024’s leading third-crop sires who is also likely to make this year’s general sires list.

Forever Young Finishes Third

As if the 150th running of America’s premier horse race wasn’t already riveting enough, its 150th edition concluded with an exciting photo finish. Mystik Dan narrowly defeated Sierra Leone entrant Forever Young for victory before an audience of 156,710.

Ken McPeek-trained Mystik Dan (16-1) advanced up the rail on the far outside and withstood late challenges from second choice Sierra Leone and 15-1 longshot Forever Young to win by just a nose. Fierceness had entered as the leading betting favorite but finished an unimpressive 15th.

Forever Young’s third-place finish at the Kentucky Derby marked the first time a Japanese horse had finished in the money at that event; Crown Pride finished 13th and Mandarin Hero and Derma Sotogake both placed sixth respectively in 2022 and 2023, respectively. His sire, Real Steel won three 2-year-old races before running at Forever Young – including winning Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki as an infant!

Fierceness Finishes 15th

On Saturday, the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, commonly referred to as “Run for the Roses”, took place. Mystik Dan (18-1) triumphed by just a nose over Sierra Leone and Forever Young for victory; Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenneth McPeek became only second person since 1952 to win both races on consecutive weekends.

Favorite Fierceness finished 15th place despite entering with 18-1 odds, an unsatisfactory result after taking home victories at both Florida Derby and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile races this year. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness had stunned rivals at both races before finishing as 15th.

Repole Stable homebred 17 had the benefit of starting from post position 17, yet failed to capitalize and eventually was defeated by 24 1/2 lengths. Still expected to make a strong run at Saratoga’s Belmont Stakes on June 8 with jockey John Velazquez riding from post 17, Repole’s horse was one of many candidates looking to become Mike Repole’s fourth Triple Crown winner within five years.