2017 Kentucky Derby

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates as he guides Always Dreaming (#5) across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby - the "most exciting two minutes in sports" - at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Churchill Downs

A general view of fans in the paddock area before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Hats

A patron wears a derby hat before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: 

The Track

Horses walk on a muddy track before the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

Starting Gate

The horses break from the starting gate at the beginning of the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Twenty horses were competing in the race.

Out of the Gate

The start of the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.  Almost immediately out of the gate, Thunder Snow, #2, the winner of the UAE Derby, bucked and was was corralled to the side. (The colt was examined and found to be uninjured.) 

Past the Grandstand

The field heads to the first turn during the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

First Turn

Horses go into the first turn during the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Churchill Downs

Horses make the first turn in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. State of Honor took an early lead.

The Final Stretch

Always Dreaming #5, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field into the stretch during the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Final Seconds

Always Dreaming outpaces Lookin at Lee in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

Final Seconds

Jockey John Velazquez guides Always Dreaming across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Finish

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates atop Always Dreaming #5 as they cross the finish line after winning the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Final Stretch

John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming to victory in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

The Victor

John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming to victory in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

Airbrorne

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates as he guides Always Dreaming #5 across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Finish Line

On a sloppy track, jockey John Velazquez guides the favorite, Always Dreaming, across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Finish Line

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates as he guides Always Dreaming #5 across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. The final time was 2:03:59.

The Victor

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates atop Always Dreaming #5 as they cross the finish line after winning the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Victor

John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming celebrates after winning the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It was Velazquez's second Kentucky Derby win, after riding Animal Kingdom in 2011.

Celebration

Jockey John Velazquez sprays the winning connections with champagne as he celebrates his victory aboard Always Dreaming in the 143rd running of The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

The order of finish, with final odds: 

1. Always Dreaming, 9-2
2. Lookin at Lee, 33-1
3. Battle of Midway, 40-1
4. Classic Empire, 6-1

1. Lookin at Lee

Here is a rundown of the race's lineup:

Lookin at Lee
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie
Trainer: Steve M. Asmussen
Owner: L and N Racing
Odds (Saturday morning): 28-1

Lookin at Lee came in third at the Arkansas Derby and Southwest Stakes, and was second at last year's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and Iroquois Stakes. 

2. Thunder Snow

Thunder Snow
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Owner: Godolphin
Odds (Saturday morning): 17-1

Thunder Snow, from Ireland, won the UAE Derby in Dubai, on a muddy track.

3. Fast and Accurate

Fast and Accurate
Jockey: Channing Hill
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Owner: Kendall E. Hansen
Odds (Saturday morning): 38-1

Fast and Accurate came in first in the Jack Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes in March.

4. Untrapped

Untrapped
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Michael Langford
Odds (Saturday morning): 62-1

A first-place finisher at the Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs last November, Untrapped placed second at the LeComte Stakes and Risen Star Stakes, third at the Rebel Stakes, and sixth at the Arkansas Derby.

5. Always Dreaming

Always Dreaming
Jockey: John Velasquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Brooklyn Boyz
Odds (Saturday morning): 4-1

The favorite going into Saturday, Always Dreaming won its three last races: The Xpressbet Florida Derby and Allowance Optioning Claiming at Gulfstream, and the Maiden Special Weight at Tampa. 

6. State of Honor

State of Honor
Jockey: Joze Lezcano
Trainer: Mark Case
Owner:Conrad Farms
Odds (Saturday morning):  54-1

State of Honor placed second at the Xpressbet Florida Derby and the Tampa Bay Derby, and third at the Sam F. Davis Stakes. 

7. Girvin

Girvin
Jockey: Mike E. Smith
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Owner: Brad Grady
Odds (Saturday morning):  22-1

Girvin has three first-place finishes: The Louisiana Derby, Risen Star Stakes and Maiden Special Weight at the Fair Grounds, and came in second at the Keith Gee Memorial Overnight Stakes.  

8. Hence

Hence
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Calumet Farm
Odds (Saturday morning):  14-1

Hence won the Sunland Derby in March, and came in second at the Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs in November.

9. Irap

Irap
Jockey: Marion Guiterrez
Trainer: Doug F. O'Neil
Owner: Reddam Racing
Odds (Saturday morning):  40-1

Irap came out on top last month at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. 

10. Gunnevera

Gunnevera
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Owner: Peacock Stables
Odds (Saturday morning):  9-1

Gunnevera won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, came in second at the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes, and third at the Florida Derby.

11. Battle of Midway

Battle of Midway
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner: Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm
Odds (Saturday morning):  38-1

Last month Battle of Midway came in second at the Santa Anita Derby. 

12. Sonneteer

Sonneteer
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Trainer: J. Keith Desormeaux
Owner: Calumet Farm
Odds (Saturday morning):  35-1

Sonneteer posted s second-place finish at the Rebel Stakes, and came in fourth at the Arkansas Derby

13. J Boys Echo

J Boys Echo
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Odds (Saturday morning):  45-1

The victor at the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in March, J Boys Echo also came in third at the Withers Stakes.

14. Classic Empire

Classic Empire
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Trainer: Mark E. Case
Owner: John Oxley
Odds (Saturday morning):  8-1

An early Derby favorite with a string of first-place finishes, Classic Empire disappointed in the Holy Bull Stakes in February, coming in third behind Irish War Cry and Gunnevera, due to a foot abscess. But the colt came back in April with a win at the Arkansas Derby.

15. McCraken

McCraken
Jockey: Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr.
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Odds (Saturday morning):  7-1

Four first-place finishes (at the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Street Sense Stakes, and Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs), were followed by a third-place finish at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April. 

16. Tapwrit

Tapwrit
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta
Odds (Saturday morning): 26-1

Tapwrit has tapped two first-places finishes, at the South Tampa Bay Derby and the Pulpit Stakes.

17. Irish War Cry

Irish War Cry
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Trainer: H. Graham Motion
Owner: Isabelle de Tomaso
Odds (Saturday morning):  5-1

Irish War Cry has tallied two strong first-place finishes (at the Wood Memorial and the Holy Bull Stakes), with seventh-place finish at the Fountain of Youth Stakes in-between.

18. Gormley

Gormley
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss
Odds (Saturday morning):  21-1

Gormley came in first at the Santa Anita Derby, the Sham Stakes and the FrontRunner Stakes. 

19. Practical Joke

Practical Joke
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Klavarich Stables and William Lawrence
Odds (Saturday morning):  30-1

Following a first-place finish at the Champagne Stakes at Belmont, Practical Joke came in second at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and the Fountain of Youth Stakes. 

20. Patch

Patch
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Calumet Farm
Odds (Saturday morning):  15-1

This one-eyed horse came in second at the Louisiana Derby. 

Churchill Downs

The view at Louisville's Churchill Downs. 

The next leg in racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness, will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Pimlico in Baltimore.