Mage wins 149th Kentucky Derby
A Mage is also a magician, but there were no illusions Saturday at Churchill Downs. In the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, Mage, a horse with 15-1 odds, came away victorious in the legendary race.
In a field of 18, Mage emerged late to win, finishing ahead of Two Phil's and odds-on favorite Angel of Empire.
Mage was not only a longshot but was ridden by a first-time Derby winner, and owned by a group of over 300 people, making Saturday's momentous victory that much more unique.
Jockey Javier Castellano had won over 5,000 races during his career, but Saturday was his first Kentucky Derby win in 16 tries. Meanwhile, a share group called Commonwealth owns Mage. The group comprises approximately 382 people who bought in for as little as $50.
After the race, Castellano said he found inspiration from NBC Sports' pre-race coverage, which showed his 0-15 record in the Derby.
"At that moment, it gave me so much inspiration in myself. And I think this is the year," Castellano said. "I'm going to win the race. I feel a lot of confidence in myself. I've been describing the race, I've been dreaming for many years."
Mage's remarkable victory capped off a tumultuous lead-up to the Derby at the legendary track.
Seven horses died at Churchill Downs this week, two on Saturday alone. Furthermore, the race featured six scratched horses, the most since 1936.
Churchill Downs called the events "completely unacceptable" in a statement released Saturday and promised to address the situation.
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