Mage wins the 149th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With a come from behind effort, Mage won the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

This was the first Derby win for jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Gustavo Delgado. Two Phil's came in second while Angel of Empire came in third.

The total attendance for the Derby was 150,335.

"I’m so thankful for the opportunity to ride the horse," Castellano said. "The whole team gave me the opportunity to ride this horse in the biggest race in the world. I had a lot of confidence in myself this year would be the year. I thought this year would be the year. This horse was unbelievable today.”

+76 IMAGES | Crowds fill Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby 149

Castellano was originally 0-15 in the Derby until riding Mage to victory. Mage's time was 2:01.57 and paid $32.42 to win.

The morning-line favorite, trainer Todd Pletcher's Forte, was scratched Saturday morning by chief state veterinarian Nick Smith. Co-owner Mike Repole said Forte either stepped on a rock or took a bad step in training Wednesday and developed a bruise. Rumors about him quickly spread, as they will do on the backsides of racetracks.

DERBY CRAWFORD MAGE WINS — Jockey Javier Castellano throws up roses from the winning garland after capturing Kentucky Derby 149 aboard Mage.
ERIC CRAWFORD

Forte is the second favorite in the past five years to scratch after the morning line odds had been set but, more unusually, is the second horse to be scratched by state racing officials this year. In the first two days of Churchill's spring meet, four other horses lost their lives from various causes, including two from Derby trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who was then suspended by Churchill Downs with his colt, Lord Miles, scratched by state stewards.

Another Derby qualifier, Wild on Ice, had to be euthanized after training April 27.

And then to start Derby week, two horses in the Derby field, Skinner and Practical Move, both shipping from California, developed fevers. Another, Continuar, just didn’t look ready to run, according to his trainer. And Joseph was given no choice with Lord Miles by the state racing commission and Churchill Downs.

The sixth and seventh horses to be euthanized in 10 days at the track came Saturday, when Chloe's Dream took a wrong step along the first turn in the second race of the day and Freezer Point was pulled up in the Pat Day Mile. Both were taken off in an equine ambulance and later euthanized.

The race Saturday was the first leg of the American Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

"Once he made the lead, it was how we had planned the race to happen," Delgado Jr. said "Everything went according to plan. This is the dream I have, a year-and-a-half ago, I wrote a note: ‘We’re going to win the Derby next year.’"

The payouts for win, place and show are below.