Sonny Leon aboard Rich Strike celebrates winning the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Longest long shot Rich Strike wins Kentucky Derby at 80-1

By Adam Stites | Last updated 5/7/22

Rich Strike did the impossible at the 2022 Kentucky Derby winning the race as the longest of long shots at 80-1.

Only one horse in the Kentucky Derby's 148-year history has ever won with longer odds. Donerail won the 1913 Kentucky Derby after closing at 91-1.

An absolutely stunning upset!

Rich Strike WINS the @KentuckyDerby! #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/2pVcVnPq2N
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 7, 2022

Another long shot, Summer Is Tomorrow, led the field for the first half-mile of the race Saturday before he was passed by Crown Pride and Messier. Epicenter then took the lead heading into the final stretch, but he was tracked down by Rich Strike who stayed close to the rail and out-sprinted the favorites to the line.

Rich Strike won a race at Churchill Downs in September 2021, but that was the only win of his career prior to Saturday. The three-year-old colt wasn't even entered into the Kentucky Derby until Friday when another horse, Ethereal Road, was scratched from the field.

Epicenter, the race favorite, finished second with Zandon in third.

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