Friday, October 9, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Mystik Dan Takes 150th Kentucky Derby in Epically Close Stunner

  • Trainer Kenny McPeek’s horse went off at 18 to 1 odds.
  • The finish, with Sierra Leone coming a close second, took several minutes to make official.
Matt Stone//Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Mystik Dan captured the first leg of racing’s Triple Crown on Saturday, winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in an epic photo finish that required several minutes’ inspection before the victory was made official. Ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez and going off at 18 to 1 odds, trainer Kenny McPeek’s horse, owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, and Daniel Hamby, survived a tight squeeze around the final turn and held off the favored Sierra Leone and Forever Young to win in the end.

Saturday’s race marked the first major showcase of Churchill Downs’ new $200 million paddock, following renovations, and notably it again went off without a horse trained by Bob Baffert, who’s serving a ban tied to a failed drug test.

Mystik Dan’s ownership group will collect $3.1 million for the race and now draw the bulk of the attention heading into the Preakness, on May 18. Sierra Leone’s owners (John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Brook Smith, and Peter Brant) collect $1 million for second place, and Forever Young’s owner, Susumu Fujita, takes $500,000 for finishing third.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning talks to Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola on the sideline as the Oregon Ducks face the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 12, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

How Oregon Beat College Football’s ‘Impossible’ Backup QB Market

Dylan Raiola will get the first start of his Oregon career on Saturday.

Filing Details Jeanie Buss’s Side Deal to Remain Lakers Governor

Jeanie Buss was granted five years as team governor.
Jul 24, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; An official MLB baseball with a Toronto Blue Jays logo sits on the grass before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

MLB Owners Propose 154-Game Season, Expanded Playoffs

The proposal also includes a weekly off day.
Sep 27, 2026; Rio De Janeiro, BRA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) A view of the NFL logo and the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys during the game at Maracana Stadium.

NFL Urges Supreme Court to Hear Prediction-Markets Case

“It is critical for the Court to act as soon as possible,” a league source says.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/9/26 – MLB’s 154-Game Pitch, NFL Bets on SCOTUS, Shaq Says Barkley Isn’t Leaving

0:00

Featured Today

Action Images/Peter Cziborra

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.
Sep 25, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees Exit Leaves Questions Heading Into Likely Lockout

Aaron Judge calls for the club to be “all in” for 2027.
Oct 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) throws during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
October 7, 2026

MLB Division Series Extends Postseason Ratings Streak

Fox Sports and TNT Sports saw initial viewership lifts in the Division Series.
October 7, 2026

Why Are NFL Penalty Flags Flying? It’s Complicated

Dead-ball penalties are a major factor.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
October 7, 2026

WNBA Semifinals Open With 1.15M Viewers, Up 10%

NBC aired its first WNBA playoff game in more than two decades.
Sep 27, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Kyle Juszczyk Wins Chugging Celebration Appeal, League Adjusts Policy

Juszczyk had received two fines of $14,926 each.
In addition to playing along the ocean and Intracoastal Water on the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course, if you time right you also watch the sunset or sunrise.
October 7, 2026

Daylight Saving Time Remains Complicated for Golf Industry

The PGA Tour recently voiced its support for permanent daylight saving time.
First at FOS
October 7, 2026

NFL Wants to Know Which Combine Measurements Actually Matter

The NFL Scouting Combine is the focus of this Big Data Bowl.