Kentucky Derby: Mage wins 149th edition of $3m race

Mage has won the Kentucky Derby, beating Two Phil’s and favorite Angel Of Empire on Saturday evening.

Around 150,000 fans turned out at Churchill Downs, Louisville to witness the 149th edition of the $3million race.

The premier event was overshadowed by the death of seven horses in the build-up to the first race of the Triple Crown. 

Mage, at odds of 15-1, had only one victory before covering 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.57 under jockey Javier Castellano. The three-year-old colt is trained by Gustavo Delgado.

Mage was in the rear of the field at the start of the Kentucky Derby but was always traveling well. 

Mage (No. 8) has won the Kentucky Derby, beating Two Phil’s and favorite Angel Of Empire 

Javier Castellano beams with joy after winning the Kentucky Derby on his 16th attempt

Castellano kisses the Kentucky Derby trophy in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs

Castellano bided his time and pulled him out wide to make a challenge heading into the turn. 

Mage responded and produced a turn of foot to challenge Two Phil’s and kicked on with a furlong to go.

Winning rider Castellano said post-win: ‘I never give up. I always try to do the right thing. I’m blessed.’

Trainer Delgado told NBC: ‘I still can’t believe it, I’ve lost my words. It’s an amazing feeling. I have all my family here,’ he told NBC.

‘Sometimes you have to follow your intuition, your guts, sometimes it plays out, sometimes it doesn’t.

‘When he starts making his move I felt confident.

‘I just knew it was a sustained move.’

Rider Castellano celebrates aboard Mage after the pair won the Kentucky Derby in Louisville

The Hall of Fame jockey snapped an 0-for-15 skid in the Derby. Both he and Delgado are from Venezuela. 

Forte, the early favorite, was scratched in the morning with a bruised foot, one of five horses that dropped out in the days leading to the race. 

Mage paid $32.42, $14.58 and $9.08.

Two Phil’s returned $10.44 and $6.52 at 9-1 odds. Angel of Empire paid $4.70 to show.