In 2022, Rich Strike captured the public imagination by winning the Kentucky Derby in stunning fashion. Entering the race at odds of 80-1, he was one of the longest shots in Derby history. YouTube+3Wikipedia+3YouTube+3
What makes the win remarkable is not only the odds but how the race unfolded. Rich Strike broke poorly, settled well behind the pace, and then found a seam on the rail in the stretch — jockey Sonny Leon guided him inside where the favorite horses were boxed out. Then he surged to the lead and held on.
That tactical move gave him the rail advantage at the critical moment. Wikipedia+2YouTube+2
In many ways, the 2022 Derby win was the “Come From Behind” story. Rich Strike didn’t dominate from the front — he was patient, waited for the opening, and then took advantage.
For the broader racing world, it served as a reminder that in horse racing — especially in the unpredictable chaos of the Derby — longshots still matter. Few expected Rich Strike to win, yet he did, rewriting pre-race expectations.
The win also elevated his team: trainer Eric Reed and owner Rick Dawson found themselves celebrated for pulling off one of the sport’s great upsets. Wikipedia+1
From a narrative standpoint, Rich Strike’s win is about taking your shot, being opportunistic, and seizing that split-second window when it appears. It has all the elements: low odds, a near-impossible story, and a finish that makes the heart race.
Just a year later, Mage stepped into the spotlight in the 2023 Kentucky Derby with a different kind of story — less about upset odds, more about powerful execution and timing.
Mage came into the race with solid credentials, and in the run, what stood out was the strength of his run in the stretch: staying power, acceleration and a late closing surge. YouTube+2YouTube+2
Jockey Javier Castellano guided Mage with precision, and trainer Gustavo Delgado had prepared him to respond when it mattered most. The win showed that this wasn’t a fluke — Mage was ready to win.
From the race execution, Mage maintained good position, avoided getting trapped on the rail too early, and made his decisive move in the stretch. That move separated him from many challengers and carried him to the finish line. YouTube+1
What makes Mage’s victory significant is also its timing. Coming off a major upset the year before (Rich Strike), the 2023 Derby reaffirmed the level of competition and the quality of the field. For Mage to come out on top signals refinement and strength.
In narrative form, Mage’s win speaks of “now it’s my turn”—the up-and-comer stepping into the limelight and showing consistency, poise and readiness. If Rich Strike’s win was the disruption, Mage’s win was the affirmation.
Then in 2024 came the triumph of Mystik Dan — arguably the most dramatic of the three. The finish was one for the ages. According to sources, Mystik Dan edged out his rivals in a three-horse photo finish, the first such finish in the Kentucky Derby since 1947. The Guardian+1
In the race, the early leaders set a fast pace, and Mystik Dan, ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., tracked inside. Trainer Kenny McPeek had arranged for Mystik Dan to cut the corner when an opening appeared — and it did. Hernandez squeezed the colt through a tight rail gap when another horse drifted off the rail, and from there Mystik Dan opened a decisive advantage in the stretch. The Wall Street Journal
But the margin was razor-thin. The rival horses — including the Japanese colt Forever Young and Sierra Leone — surged in the final strides, closing quickly. At the wire it was nose to nose and almost two of them crossed together. The official result took minutes to confirm. AP News
For fans and historians, the 2024 Derby stands out not only because of the win but because of the how. A strategic inside trip, perfect timing, and an execution under enormous pressure. Mystik Dan’s win embodies mental toughness: navigating not just a race but the moment.
From a thematic viewpoint, Mystik Dan’s victory shows that sometimes the difference between first and second is the minutest detail — the angle of the turn, the choice of path, the split-second when the jockey says “go”. Also, it’s a celebration of taking advantage of the subtle openings: a drifting horse, a gap on the rail, a momentary hesitation by others.
In short: Rich Strike showed us that underdogs can win; Mage showed us champions in the making; Mystik Dan reminded us that when the stakes are highest, precision and timing matter just as much as raw speed.
