The 2024 version of the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve was an unforgettable one, as Mystik Dan prevailed in an exhilarating three-horse picture end over Sierra Leone and Perpetually Younger, who completed second and third by a nostril.
Learn what the trainers and jockeys who competed within the first jewel of the Triple Crown needed to say in regards to the 1 1/4-mile basic race, the winner’s efficiency, and the way their horses fared.
Brian Hernandez Jr., Jockey, Mystik Dan, winner: “It nonetheless hasn’t sunk in, it’s so unbelievable. We got here into the weekend considering that we had a extremely huge probability at successful each Friday (Kentucky Oaks) and Saturday. For the horses to tug it off for us, now we have to thank the fellows again within the barn. It’s positively a surreal second. The final 20 years I’ve ridden in Kentucky, and as a younger child out of Louisiana, I had the prospect of sitting in the identical nook as Calvin Borel. Watching him trip all these Derbies all these years, and as we speak with Mystik Dan, being within the 3 gap, I watched a few his rides, with Tremendous Saver and Mine That Chicken, and I made a decision that we have been going to roll the cube. That’s the good factor about Kenny (McPeek), he lets me make these selections. We had the correct of horse to offer him that sort of journey.”
Kenny McPeek, Coach, Mystik Dan, winner: “For 3 weeks, I’ve felt like we have been going to win each races (Kentucky Derby and Friday’s Kentucky Oaks). I can’t let you know why. Each horses have been straightforward to cope with, the workforce has executed such an incredible job every single day. There’s been no drama. I simply imagine in mojo, in optimistic vitality, and we’ve had a whole lot of it.”
Tyler Gaffalione, Jockey, Sierra Leone, runner-up: “All the pieces was going to plan because the horse received into a superb rhythm on the primary flip as we have been capable of save floor. I received into a pleasant place and adopted Perpetually Younger, and he began to make a superb transfer. I made a decision to observe him and coming into the stretch, I felt like I had loads of horse. He needed to lean in as we speak and made it slightly tough. I had a tough time maintaining him straight and that positively value us. He provides you every little thing, very responsive however he loses focus.”
Chad Brown, Coach, Sierra Leone, runner-up: “You get beat a nostril within the Kentucky Derby, it’s a tricky one. However he’s an incredible horse, almost undefeated. I’m simply so fortunate to have him, so happy with his effort as we speak. He did what we requested him to do, simply got here up slightly bit quick. It’s simply so onerous to get right here, so many issues should go proper, and you must have the proper horse. It’s disappointing the outcome however I’m so happy with the horse. He ran his race. When you’ve a deep nearer like that, you must undergo some site visitors and go vast. I’ll have to take a look at his journey slightly bit nearer. However it doesn’t actually matter, he received beat a nostril.”
Flavien Prat, Jockey, Catching Freedom, fourth: “I used to be touring properly and had an opportunity to chop each nook and save all the bottom. I used to be behind the winner turning for residence and had a superb run.”
Brad Cox, Coach, Catching Freedom, fourth: “General I used to be very pleased with Catching Freedom’s effort, I actually was and the trip Flavien (Prat) gave him. We’ll regroup, unsure the place we’ll land.”
Kazushi Kimura, Jockey, T O Password, fifth: “He didn’t break properly. This was his third time working and he was in a brand new nation. He most likely wasn’t one hundred pc mature. Immediately he completed up sturdy. I hope the horse can keep for the Preakness.”
Junior Alvarado, Jockey, Resilience, sixth: “He ran nice. I had an incredible journey and turning for residence I believed I had an opportunity. He ran nice.”
Antonio Fresu, Jockey, Stronghold, seventh: “I had a ravishing race all the best way round. I used to be very relaxed all the best way after which within the stretch once I tried to make a transfer, he went for slightly bit, he received discouraged however didn’t present up within the final half.”
Ben Curtis, Jockey, Honor Marie, eighth: “My race was over popping out of the gate. I received speared from each side, I misplaced an iron and needed to put it again in. He was almost down on his head, however I gave him time to select himself up. He didn’t get the smoothest first quarter of a mile and I simply let him float round a bit after that. Then I took to the within as a result of I didn’t wish to give away any extra floor. He paid for the early exertion, however he ran a reputable race.”
Umberto Rispoli, Jockey, Endlessly, ninth: “This was his first time on the filth, and he received a whole lot of relax in his face. He really dealt with it fairly properly. Simply earlier than the quarter-pole I used to be attempting to observe Sierra Leone, however I received in slightly site visitors. I feel he’s a horse that must be clear. He ran onerous down the lane.”
Luis Saez, Jockey, Dornoch, tenth: “He had a extremely tough journey. Everybody got here down on me leaving the gate even after he jumped properly. It was only a robust place.”
Danny Gargan, Coach, Dornoch, tenth: “He had a really dangerous journey. He was eradicated early. He received very drained. I’m disenchanted in the best way he ran as we speak.”
Joel Rosario, Jockey, Monitor Phantom, eleventh: “I used to be on the lead for some time. He ran his race, however we couldn’t grasp in there. He did his greatest.”
Jesus Castanon, Jockey, West Saratoga, twelfth: “I’ve no complaints. I used to be in a great place early with him however once I received to the half-mile pole, I felt like my horse wasn’t selecting up the bridle. He gave me slightly run late, however it wasn’t his greatest.”
John Velazquez, Jockey, Fierceness, fifteenth: “His first soar was not superb. His second and third soar he was OK. He received fairly aggressive since I needed to give him a nudge out of there. The horses on the surface put the strain on, after which he received into the bridle. I attempted to maintain him as settled as a lot with out letting doing an excessive amount of however he was already engaged. Once I let him go, he simply didn’t have it.”
Todd Pletcher, Coach, Fierceness, fifteenth: “Johnny (Velazquez) mentioned he hopped slightly firstly. Then he received wound up in all the corporate round him attempting to make the lead. He couldn’t shake free like he did in Florida. Simply a type of races.”
Frankie Dettori, Jockey, Society Man, sixteenth: “It was an incredible ambiance. My horse tried however he’s most likely not at this stage. I loved myself, absorbed all of the ambiance and actually loved it.”
Florent Geroux, Jockey, Only a Contact, twentieth: “I used to be within the center, received bounced round so much from each side. From there, my horse was very eager, slightly relaxed and when it was time to go, he wasn’t there for me. He used a whole lot of vitality early.”
