Mage won the 149th Kentucky Derby after a week of scratched horses. Kingsbarns and Reincarnate started well, followed by Two Phil's in.
The backstretch. Two Phil's moved as the field approached the stretch with Verifying on the inside and Kingsbarns on the outside.
Mage beat Two Phil's and Angel of Empire to the line on the outside. Mage was 17-1 at posttime. Javier Castellano won his 16th.
Kentucky Derby, his first.The Derby field was reshuffled several times. Three horses—Practical Move, Lord Miles, and Continuar—withdrew the first week.
Practical Move was scratched for a fever, and Continuar's trainer thought the horse wasn't ready for the Kentucky Derby. After two of Saffie Joseph Jr.'s horses died.
Earlier in the week, Lord Miles was scratched. Churchill Downs suspended the trainer indefinitely for "unexplained sudden deaths.
On Saturday, Forte, the early favorite, was scratched due to a Thursday training injury. After a Saturday morning workout, Forte learned the favorite was out. Skinner withdrew, leaving 18 horses.
Tapit Trice (9-2) and Angel of Empire (9-2) were co-favorites early on Saturday after Forte, the 5-1 favorite, withdrew. Later, Angel of Empire became the favorite.