Orb used a furious finish to race past Golden Soul and Revolutionary to win the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday.
Just prior to the race, it was reported that Orb was the favorite at 5-1. It is rare, but a favorite finally came through in the sport's biggest race.
This was the first Derby win for owner Shug McGaughey. The 62-year-old Kentucky native and member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, had to fight back the tears as he was interviewed on NBC after the race.
At the start, it didn't appear that Orb and jockey Joel Rosario would even place, but they proved to be strongest in the final half of the race.
As is the case with many of the major horse races, the front-runners fell by the waste side as the true contenders shine down the stretch.
Orb became the fifth winner out of the 16th spot in the history of the Derby. In fact, this could soon become the most favorable draw for jockeys, trainers and owners.
Animal Kingdom won from this 16th post in 2011. Orb was able to properly utilize the space provided from the outside position.
In horse racing, there are always startling connections to past and current success stories. Rosario actually rode Animal Kingdom to a win at the Dubai World Cup in March.
That $10 million race was a huge win for Rosario. Considering he has now mounted a Kentucky Derby winner just over a month later, it appears he is having a pretty good year.
The 28-year-old Dominican began racing in the United States in 2006. He's had 128 wins before Saturday's triumph, but it is safe to say, none have been more special than this one.
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