Who wins the Kentucky Derby? And what colossal long shot hits the board? Visit SportsLine to get Jody Demling's Kentucky Derby winner, see which huge long shot contends, and get the finish positions for every single horse, all from the man who's picked 9 straight Derby-Oaks doubles!
Churchill Downs has been drenched by a record amount of rainfall, but the 2018 Kentucky Derby is still on. And no one's quite sure just who's going to come out on top as Justify looks to overcome a 135-year-old curse, My Boy Jack looks to capitalize on the sloppy conditions and a handful of other inexperienced Thoroughbreds eye the $2 million at stake from Louisville at the 144th "Run for the Roses."
The annual Grade I stakes competition has long been the biggest showcase of American horse racing. It's the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred events, and it has built a reputation not only as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" but as a stomping ground of celebrity guests.
More Kentucky Derby: Expert picks | Horses | Betting guide | How to make a mint julep
But when, exactly, is this year's Kentucky Derby? And how can you watch it? Don't worry, we've got you covered with everything you need to know.
When is the Kentucky Derby?
Every year, the "Run for the Roses" is held on the first Saturday of May. And that day this year is Saturday, May 5. On Friday, the annual running of the Kentucky Oaks, a race for 3-year-old fillies (female horses), took place.
What's the prize?
There will be 20 horses in this year's race, with $2 million as the prize.
What time does the race start?
The post time for this year's race is scheduled for 6:34 p.m. ET, but the race isn't set to start until 12 minutes later at 6:46 p.m. Again, better to tune in early, than late, since the race only lasts two minutes. You don't want to miss it.
How can I watch, stream the race?
When: Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET
TV: NBC
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Kentucky Derby post draw, updated odds
Odds via TwinSpires.com
Post Horse Odds 1 Firenze Fire 59-1 2 Free Drop Billy 43-1 3 Promises Fulfilled 47-1 4 Flameaway 43-1 5 Audible 6-1 6 Good Magic 9-1 7 Justify 3-1 8 Lone Sailor 23-1 9 Hofburg 27-1 10 My Boy Jack 5-1 11 Bolt d'Oro 8-1 12 Enticed 54-1 13 Bravazo 69-1 14 Mendelssohn 7-1 15 Instilled Regard 94-1 16 Magnum Moon 13-1 17 Solomini 66-1 18 Vino Rosso 14-1 19 Noble Indy 59-1 20 Combatant 75-1
How should I bet?
SportsLine's Jody Demling had the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming, early last year, and has nailed nine straight Derby-Oaks doubles. You can get his latest predictions here.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Since 1882, when the Standard Oil Trust was formed, Franklin D. Roosevelt was born and the electrical age began with the flip of a switch that lit up one square mile of Lower Manhattan, no horse has won the Kentucky Derby without racing at the age of 2.
The horse that did it in 1882 was the chestnut gelding Apollo, named after the Greek god of many things, including the paradoxical powers to both heal and plague. He caught the favorite Runnymede in deep stretch to win by a half-length and earn the heaping sum of $4,560. No one in attendance could have predicted how long it would take for another 3-year-old to emerge who did not race at 2 but would still sniff the roses on the first Saturday in May.
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Enter Justify, the undefeated chestnut colt with the big white blaze who had won three straight races in 2018, including the Santa Anita Derby, and is trained by the Triple Crown-winning Bob Baffert. Maybe Apollo would get the best of him at the Kentucky Derby, or maybe enough was enough, and the right horse had finally come along to send the curse of Apollo the way of the billy goat and the Bambino.
On Saturday at Churchill Downs, amid a steady and driving rain, Justify proved he was such a horse, making his move around the far turn and then fending off Good Magic to win the 144th Derby by two and a half lengths in 2 minutes 4.20 seconds. He earned a $1,432,000 paycheck for his connections and rewarded his thoroughly soaked backers with $7.80 on a $2 bet to win. Audible finished third.
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“Him and American Pharoah and Arrogate, these horses are cut from a different. …” Baffert stopped himself before continuing. “They are just so great,” he said.
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The result marked the sixth year in a row the favorite has won the Derby. It was Baffert’s fifth Derby win.
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The ironman Mike Smith, who at 52 is in the type of shape that makes his younger counterparts ogle or stew, or both, once again lived up to his nickname Big Money Mike by expertly guiding his supremely talented, but woefully inexperienced, mount to victory in America’s greatest race. It was his second Derby victory — his first coming in 2005 aboard the 50-1 shot Giacomo — in a career overflowing with success.
The 2018 Kentucky Derby — the first leg of horse racing's fabled Triple Crown — is in the books. Justify handled the sloppy conditions in Louisville the best and captured the 144th Run for the Roses.
The Derby is so much more than a race, though — it's an event, with celebrities and superstars from all around attending. Saturday's attendance at Churchill Downs was announced at 157,813.
DERBY PHOTOS: Top images from Churchill Downs
Sporting News provided live updates of Derby Day.
Live Kentucky Derby updates from Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby live updates
Who won the 2018 Kentucky Derby?
Justify, the 5-2 betting favorite trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by 52-year-old jockey Mike Smith, won the $2 million race. The 3-year-old colt stalked a fast early pace while racing up front, took the lead around the far turn and pulled away in deep stretch. The winning time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2 minutes, 4 1/5 seconds.
The Curse of Apollo is over!
Justify is the winner of the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby. Watch the full race replay, presented by @rocketmortgage. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/CVkPSPlNhh — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 5, 2018
Apollo was the 1882 Kentucky Derby champion, who was the last winner before Justify not to race as a 2-year-old.
Smith is the second-oldest jockey to win the Derby; Bill Shoemaker was 54 when he won aboard Ferdinand in 1987.
"We jumped out well and I didn't by all means (think) I had it won, but man, just a sigh of relief. I was just like, 'Ahh, you do it from here, man.' I basically stayed out of the way and just kept a leg on each side and my body in the middle," Smith told reporters in the postrace press conference (per Thoroughbred Daily News).
"It’s like having LeBron James on your team. You have LeBron James, you better win a championship,” Baffert, now a five-time Derby winner, told reporters (per Louisville television station WDRB).
Kentucky Derby results
Justify finished first, followed by Good Magic, Audible and Instilled Regard. Justify paid $7.80 to win (for every $2 wagered).
#-Horse Win Place Show 7-Justify 7.80 6.00 4.40 6-Good Magic 9.20 6.60 5-Audible 5.80 15-Instilled Regard
Winning time: 2:04.20.
Also ran: 10-My Boy Jack; 13-Bravazo; 9-Hofburg; 8-Lone Sailor; 18-Vino Rosso; 17-Solomini; 1-Firenze Fire; 11-Bolt d'Oro; 4-Flameaway; 12-Enticed; 3-Promises Fulfilled; 2-Free Drop Billy; 19-Noble Indy; 20-Combatant; 16-Magnum Moon; 14-Mendelssohn.
$2 exacta (7-6) paid $69.60; $1 trifecta (7-6-5) paid $141.40; $1 superfecta (7-6-5-15) paid $19,618.20.
