The 2024 Kentucky Derby was a race that appeared to have two clear betting favorites, but neither of those horses came away with a win. Horse racing has become much more competitive in recent years, leading some underdogs to secure wins.
When putting together a Kentucky Derby betting analysis, Fierceness and Sierra Leone were the two horses that stood out right away. Many predictors featured those two horses, but other horses emerged as the winners.
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Mystik Dan came out of nowhere to win the 150th Kentucky Derby, but the race came down to a photo finish. There was a delay of a few minutes as the judges had to review the photo from the finish line, but ultimately it was Mystik Dan that held off two other horses.
When making a bet on Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan came into the event with odds at 18-1, making him a big favorite. Sierra Leone actually made a big charge to end up in second place, but that horse just couldn’t close enough.
Forever Young was the third horse that was in the mix at the finish line, and that would have been another longshot that came away with a win. This was one of those horse racing events in which some big underdogs were making a run early, and that kept the crowd energized throughout the action.
Mystik Dan secured a $3.1 million purse for his owner and jockey, marking the largest payout ever recorded at the Kentucky Derby. Fierceness stood out for anyone who put together a Kentucky Derby betting analysis, but that horse just couldn’t keep pace as the action heated up.
This was the first Kentucky Derby to be decided by a photo finish since 1996, and just the 10th race all-time.
TWO PHOTO FINISHES IN ONE WEEKEND.
Saturday: Mystik Dan wins the Kentucky Derby by a nose.
Sunday: Kyle Larson wins in the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. pic.twitter.com/EVrWlE6kzG— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 6, 2024
Record Betting Action
Not only was there a record crowd on hand to celebrate the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, but this event brought in a ton of betting action as well. Since this is the biggest horse racing event of the year, everyone is trying to get their bets in.
Everyone was looking for the Kentucky Derby best bets to make, but people just wanted to get in on the action as well. Nearly $211 million was bet on the Kentucky Derby, as reported by Churchill Downs.
This year’s figures eclipsed the 2023 record by more than $20 million. The total amount wagered on the Kentucky Derby won’t come out until a bit later as there was also some bets placed online.
Those that were able to choose Mystik Dan after sifting through their Kentucky Derby betting analysis were able to walk away with a massive payday.
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A Look Ahead The Kentucky Derby
Now that the Kentucky Derby action is over, it’s time to look ahead to the other big horse racing events of the year. The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are the other legs of the Triple Crown, and Mystik Dan now has a chance to walk away with that crown.
The Preakness Stakes will take place on May 18th in Baltimore, Maryland, and it will be the 149th running of that event. Kenny McPeek is the trainer for Mystik Dan, and he wouldn’t commit to his horse running in that event.
Mystik Dan is going to be traveling to Saratoga, New York in order to prepare for the running of that race, but it’s unclear if he will recover in time to actually take to the track. The other two horses involved in the photo finish are in a similar position, and this will be a story to follow leading up to the Preakness Stakes.
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