The 2018 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve was held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5, with rainy conditions adding to the excitement of “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” in Louisville, Kentucky on the dirt track. Justify, ridden by Mike Smith, entered the race as the heavy favorite, but as we have learned through the years, anything can happen when the horses leave their gates.
157,813 fans were in attendance for the first leg of the Triple Crown, despite it being the rainiest Kentucky Derby in history.
Justify jumped out to an immediate lead on the muddy track and began pacing the field down the opening stretch. Good Magic and Bolt d’Oro, two other favorites, were keeping pace with the leader. Justify continued its run on the outside, and was pulling away on the final turn while Bolt d’Oro was looking to close the distance. Mike Smith had Justify in good position down the final stretch and pulled away to a two-length lead as he crossed the finish line in just over two minutes and four seconds.
It marked the sixth consecutive year that the favorite had won the Kentucky Derby.
The full results, highlights and betting payouts from the 144th running of The Race for the Roses can be seen below.
2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Payouts
If you tossed a single dollar on the #KyDerby superfecta though…
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— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 5, 2018
2018 Kentucky Derby Results
| POSITION | HORSE (ODDS) |
|---|---|
| 1. | Justify (5-2) |
| 2. | Good Magic (9-1) |
| 3. | Audible (7-1) |
| 4. | Instilled Regard (85-1) |
| 5. | My Boy Jack (6-1) |
| 6. | Bravazo (66-1) |
| 7. | Hofburg (27-1) |
| 8. | Lone Sailor (24-1) |
| 9. | Vino Rosso (14-1) |
| 10. | Solomini (62-1) |
| 11. | Firenze Fire (59-1) |
| 12. | Bolt D’oro (8-1) |
| 13. | Flameaway (37-1) |
| 14. | Enticed (50-1) |
| 15. | Promises Fulfilled (49-1) |
| 16. | Free Drop Billy (45-1) |
| 17. | Noble Indy (59-1) |
| 18. | Combatant (70-1) |
| 19. | Magnum Moon (13-1) |
| 20. | Mendelssohn (6-1) |
2018 Kentucky Derby Purse Distribution
1st Place: $1.24 million
2nd Place: $400,000
3rd Place: $200,000
4th Place: $100,000
5th Place: $60,000