Mage crowned surprise winner of 2023 Kentucky Derby

Eight-year-old Mage won the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Saturday after pulling ahead at the last minute.

Mage’s Jockey was Venezuelan Javier Castellano, who is a four-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey. There were 391 behind the winning horse.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2023 KENTUCKY DERBY

The win was a huge disappointment to the top three favorites, two of which were in last and second to last place nearly from the start of the race. Forte had 7-2 odds, Angel of Empire had 6-1 odds, and Tapit Trice had 6-1 odds.

Trainer Saffie Joseph was suspended indefinitely on Thursday following the “highly-unusual sudden deaths of two horses trained by Joseph,” according to Churchill Downs. The horses, Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, died on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively, following races. Lord Miles, another horse trained by Joseph, was also scratched from Saturday’s race.

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Saturday’s race will be the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. The event has been held every year since 1875.

The event also marks the first event of the illustrious Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes on May 20 and Belmont Stakes on June 10. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018.