Medina Spirit has stormed to victory in the Kentucky Derby to give trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the Run for the Roses.
Under jockey John Velazquez, Medina Spirit jumped to an early lead and fended off challenges down the stretch to cross the line first in front of 51,838 fans in the largest US sporting event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The win was Hall of Fame jockey Velazquez's fourth in the first race of the Triple Crown, which returned to its usual spot — the first Saturday in May — after being pushed to September last year due to the pandemic.
Baffert had downplayed his "little" horse's chances heading into the race and was stunned to see the dark bay three year-old maintain his speed for the 1-1/4-mile (2km) race on a fast dirt track.
"I knew he was training well, but I'm really, really surprised," Baffert said.
"When I saw him with the easy lead, I expected these horses to come at him. But Johnny had him in a perfect spot, and if you have him on the lead, he'll fight," he said.
Baffert first won the race in 1997 with Silver Charm. Two of his horses — American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 — went on to add wins in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to complete the Triple Crown.
Baffert's seventh victory in the race takes him past Ben A Jones, who trained six winners between 1938 and 1952.
Velazquez said the emotion that comes with winning "the most exciting two minutes in sports" has not diminished.
"What an incredible feeling. This doesn't get old," Velazquez said after the win.
Longshot Mandaloun was second, 5-1 Hot Rod Charlie was third and 5/2 favourite Essential Quality was forced to settle for fourth.
Reuters/ABC
