Kentucky Derby 2024 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports

NBC Sports

4 May 202406:15

Summary

TLDRThe transcript captures the thrilling moments of the 150th Kentucky Derby, where a fierce competition unfolds among the horses and jockeys. The race begins with Fierceness starting well in the middle pack. As the race progresses, Velazquez guides Fierceness to the lead, followed by a tight pack including Mystik Dan, Dornoch, and Domestic Product. The first half concludes with the leaders in close contention. The second half sees a dramatic race to the finish, with Stronghold and Resilience taking the lead, only for Mystik Dan to challenge them. In an incredibly close finish, it's a photo finish between Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, with the former being declared the winner by a nose. The victory is a result of a brilliant decision by jockey Ryan Hernandez to force his way through on the rail. The win completes the Kentucky Oaks double for the three-year-old fillies, and trainer Kenny McPeek expresses his admiration for the jockey's performance and the draw's advantage.

Takeaways

🏇 The Kentucky Derby is a highly competitive horse race where horses start in the middle pack and vie for the lead.
🏎️ Fierceness had an okay start and managed to move up in the race, indicating the dynamic nature of the competition.
🐎 Jockey Velazquez played a crucial role in getting his horse, Mystik Dan, to take the lead at one point in the race.
🏁 Dornoch, Domestic Product, and other horses were in close competition, highlighting the tight race dynamics.
⏱️ The first half of the race was completed in 46.3 seconds, setting a quick pace for the Derby.
🔄 The leader changed multiple times throughout the race, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the event.
🏆 Resilience took the lead at one point, demonstrating the strength and endurance of the horse.
📸 The race ended in a photo finish, making it one of the tightest finishes in the Derby's history.
📈 Jockey Ryan Hernandez's decision to force his way through on the rail was a game-changer, contributing to the win.
🎉 If Mystik Dan won, it would mean a Kentucky Oaks Double for the 3-year-old fillies, a significant achievement.
🌟 Brian Hernandez Jr. may have secured his first Derby win with a famous late run at the end on the rails.
🤝 Trainer Kenny McPeek praised jockey Brian for his brilliant performance, emphasizing the teamwork behind the victory.

Q & A

What is the event described in the transcript?
-The event described in the transcript is the Kentucky Derby, a prestigious horse race.
Which horse had an okay start and was in the middle of the pack?
-Fierceness had an okay start and was in the middle of the pack.
Who is the jockey that gets the horse Fierceness up to the lead?
-The jockey who gets Fierceness up to the lead is Velazquez.
What is the position of the horse Dornoch in the race?
-Dornoch is next after Fierceness in the race.
How many horses are mentioned as meeting on the inside?
-Three horses are mentioned as meeting on the inside.
What is the time taken to run the first half of the race?
-The first half of the race is run in 46.3 seconds.
Which horse was leading the race at the second?
-The leader at the second is not explicitly mentioned, but the outside second is occupied by Stronghold.
What is the final outcome of the race?
-The final outcome is a photo finish between Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, with Mystik Dan winning by a nose.
How does the jockey Ryan Hernandez's strategy contribute to the win?
-Ryan Hernandez's strategy of forcing his way through on the rail turning for home made the difference in winning or losing the race.
What is the significance of the win for the horse Mystik Dan?
-If Mystik Dan won, it would be a Kentucky Oaks Double, a significant achievement for the 3-year-old fillies from the previous day.
Who is the trainer of the winning horse Mystik Dan?
-The trainer of the winning horse Mystik Dan is Kenny McPeek.
What is the significance of the photo finish in the context of the Kentucky Derby?
-A photo finish signifies one of the tightest finishes in the Derby, with the outcome being determined by a very close margin, as seen in the 1996 Derby where the winner was determined by a nose.

Outlines

00:00

🏇 Intense Finish at the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is underway, with fierce competition among the horses. They start with Fierceness in the middle of the pack, but Velázquez guides him to the lead. Mystik Dan, Dornoch, and Domestic Product are also in the lead at different points. The race is tight, with the horses running neck and neck. As they approach the finish line, it's a photo finish between Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, with Mystik Dan winning by a nose. The commentators discuss the close finish and the brilliant decision by jockey Ryan Hernandez to force his way through on the rail. The win is significant for Mystik Dan, potentially achieving a Kentucky Oaks Double, and the jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr., may have secured his first Derby win.

05:02

🏆 Mystik Dan's Victory and Trainer's Reaction

Mystik Dan wins the race by sticking close to the rails, a strategy that proves successful. Sierra Leone also performs well, but some bumping with Forever Young doesn't help his chances. Kenny McPeek, the trainer of Mystik Dan, is congratulated and expresses his gratitude. He acknowledges the skill of jockey Brian (though it seems there might be a mix-up with the name, as the jockey's name is mentioned as Ryan Hernandez in the previous paragraph). McPeek discusses the favorable draw that helped from the start and how his horse was somewhat overlooked by others. He confidently asserts that Mystik Dan was the best shot among the horses he has ever brought to the Derby.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is a prestigious annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, and is known as 'The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports'. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown for three-year-old thoroughbreds. In the video script, the race's intensity and the close finish are central to the narrative, highlighting the excitement and unpredictability of the event.

💡Jockey

A jockey is a professional horse rider, typically in horse racing. In the context of the script, the jockey's skill and decision-making are pivotal to the outcome of the race. Ryan Hernandez's strategy to force his way through on the rail is highlighted as a key factor in the victory.

💡Mystik Dan

Mystik Dan is one of the horses competing in the Kentucky Derby. The script describes its performance throughout the race, including its position in the pack and its eventual lead in the final stretch, making it a central figure in the race's dramatic conclusion.

💡Triple Crown

The Triple Crown is a series of three prestigious races won by the same three-year-old thoroughbred horse within a short period, including the Kentucky Derby. The script alludes to the significance of winning the Derby as part of achieving a potential Triple Crown.

💡Photo Finish

A photo finish is a situation in a race where the winner is so close to the second competitor that a photograph must be examined to determine the winner. In the script, the phrase 'photo finish' is used to describe the extremely close outcome of the race, adding to the suspense and drama.

💡Horse Racing Strategy

Horse racing strategy refers to the tactics used by jockeys and trainers to position their horses advantageously during a race. The script mentions a 'brilliant decision' by the jockey to use the rail, which is a common strategic move in horse racing to gain an edge.

💡Resilience

Resilience, in the context of the script, refers to one of the competing horses that shows a strong performance by taking the lead at one point. The horse's name symbolizes the quality of being able to recover quickly from difficulties, which is a theme in the race's competitive nature.

💡Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is another horse mentioned in the script, which is involved in the photo finish, adding to the suspense of the race. The horse's name is used to illustrate the international nature of the competition and the high stakes of the event.

💡Kentucky Oaks

The Kentucky Oaks is a horse race for three-year-old fillies held on the day before the Kentucky Derby. The script refers to the 'Kentucky Oaks Double', indicating a horse that wins both the Oaks and the Derby, which is a significant achievement in horse racing.

💡Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs is the famous racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, where the Kentucky Derby is held. The script mentions the location as the backdrop for the intense competition and excitement of the race.

💡Horse Racing Terminology

The script uses specific horse racing terminology such as 'on the rail', 'three across the track', and 'coming down the stretch'. These terms are essential for understanding the positioning and dynamics of the race, contributing to the detailed narrative of the event.

Highlights

The Kentucky Derby is off to an exciting start with Fierceness having an okay start and Velázquez leading the pack.

Mystik Dan takes the lead on the inside, followed closely by Dornoch and Domestic Product.

A dramatic moment as three horses, To Password, Honor Marie, and Endlessly, meet on the inside.

The first half of the race is run in 46.3 seconds, with the leader perched up on the outside.

Stronghold and Epic Ride are three wide, with Look Back Toward Sierra trailing behind by 14 lengths.

Fierceness moves up outside, and a run from Stronghold leads to Resilience taking the lead.

Mystik Dan is out on the inside, with Forever Young starting to pick up speed towards the top of the rail.

A tight finish with a photo finish required to decide the winner between Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone.

One of the tightest finishes in the Derby since 1996, with the outcome determined by a photo.

Mystik Dan is declared the winner by a nose, achieving the Kentucky Oaks Double.

Jockey Ryan Hernandez's brilliant decision to force his way through on the rail turns out to be the difference in winning or losing.

Kenny McPeek expresses his gratitude and praises jockey Brian Hernandez for his amazing performance.

Mystik Dan's win is compared to a famous late run at the end on the rails, showcasing a similar kind of rail runner strategy.

Sierra Leone makes a huge run and finishes alongside, despite having to turn a little bit.

The announcers discuss the draw's impact on the race and how it helped Mystik Dan from the beginning.

Kenny McPeek reflects on whether Mystik Dan was overlooked by the other horses, considering it their best shot.

The transcript ends with a sense of excitement and anticipation as the results are yet to be officially posted.