Kentucky Derby longshots: Rich Strike among biggest upsets in history

A $30,000 claimer who went from zero to hero in lower than 24 hours, Wealthy Strike made historical past because the second longest shot to win the Kentucky Derby in 148 editions of the race.

Because the unlikely champion will get prepared for the Belmont Stakes (June 11, NBC), meet a few of the different surprising upset winners from all through the Kentucky Derby’s 148-year historical past.

Donerail (91-1), 1913

Over 100 years in the past, an unlikely bay colt made Kentucky Derby historical past that might stand the check of time. Donerail was bred, owned and skilled by Thomas P. Hayes, and he was ridden by Roscoe Goose, each Louisville natives.

The Kentucky Derby expertise in 1913 was a lot totally different from the race of in the present day. The purse was $6,600 (price slightly below $200,000 in 2022), whereas the total purse of this yr’s race was $3 million. There wasn’t sufficient house to secure Donerail at Churchill Downs, so the colt needed to make a further three-mile trek from Douglas Park earlier than the race.

His unequalled upset at 91-1 got here with a payout of $184.90.

Donerail went on to win a handful of stakes races however broke down as a four-year-old, and his racing profession by no means rebounded.

Wealthy Strike (80-1), 2022

Simply at some point earlier than the 148th Kentucky Derby, Rick Dawson’s colt wasn’t even entered within the race. The Kentucky-bred grandson of Curlin was a really late addition after Ethereal Highway scratched. So late, in truth, that jockey Sonny Leon had a full day of racing in Cincinnati the day earlier than.

Wealthy Strike hung in direction of the again of the pack earlier than turning on the rocket boosters and weaving his technique to victory. His 80-1 odds made him the most important Kentucky Derby upset in over a century and the second greatest within the historical past of the race.

His connections have introduced that he’ll skip the Preakness Stakes (Could 21, 4-7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) and deal with the Belmont (June 11, NBC).

Nation Home (65-1), 2019

The 145th Kentucky Derby was historic for a number of causes. Most Safety grew to become the second horse in over a century of racing to be disqualified from the Derby, and Nation Home, who completed second however was elevated to first, cemented himself in Churchill Downs historical past together with his win at 65-1 odds. It was the primary Derby win for coach Invoice Mott and jockey Flavien Prat, and on the time, it was the second-biggest upset the Run for the Roses had ever seen.

Most Safety comfortably cruised in entrance from wire to wire, however he was stripped of the win minutes after the race when racing stewards decided he had moved out of his lane and bumped his hind proper leg into one other horse.

The Derby was Nation Home’s final begin, and he was retired the next February. He now stands at Darby Dan Farms in Lexington, Ky. on a $7,500 stud charge.

Mine That Hen (50-1), 2009

In case you met Mine That Hen in the present day, you’d by no means know the 16-year-old ranch horse made Kentucky Derby historical past in 2009 when he crossed the wire at Churchill Downs as a 50-1 longshot.

With jockey Calvin Borel within the irons, the Kentucky-bred descendent of Northern Dancer wasn’t simply useless final for the primary half of the race — he was a number of lengths behind the top of the pack.

In dramatic nearer style, Borel drove Mine That Hen up the rail and pounded down the homestretch for the upset over the sector of 20, which included Pioneerof the Nile, sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Mine That Hen completed second within the Preakness, third within the Belmont and would go on to race for an additional season earlier than retiring on a large ranch in New Mexico with proprietor Mark Allen.

Giacomo (50-1), 2005

Jockey Mike Smith has ridden a few of the most coveted horses in racing historical past, nevertheless it was the 50-1 longshot Giacomo that introduced the now Triple Crown-winning rider his first Kentucky Derby victory.

Giacomo’s win got here in dramatic style with the colt successful a detailed, three-way end by a nostril.

Two weeks later, he completed third within the Preakness and was seventh within the Belmont three weeks after that. His final win was the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, and his remaining profession begin was again at Churchill Downs within the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1), the place he completed fourth.

The standout gray was retired to stud in Kentucky and now stands at Oakhurst Thoroughbreds in Oregon.