I’ll Have Another wins Kentucky Derby

I’ll Have Another and rookie jockey Mario Gutierrez stole the Kentucky Derby at the wire today, winning the $2.2-million Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, USA Today reported. 

The race lived up to its billing as extremely competitive, with favorite Bodemeister finishing second and Dullahan third.

I'll Have Another paid $32.60 for the win, $13.80 to place and $9 to show.

Bodemeister (a 4-1 favorite) led most of the way, but the hard-finishing I'll Have Another caught the favorite with about 100 yards to the end.

Gutierrez, who trained in Vancouver, won the race for trainer Doug O'Neill and owner Paul Reddam.

I'll Have Another (at 15-1 odds) started from the 19th post in the 1 1/4-mile race, the first jewel of the triple crown.

Some of the other favorites finished well back, CBS News said.

Unbeaten Gemologist was 16th, while Union Rags was seventh and Hansen ninth.

The stunning finish was nothing new for Gemologist trainer Todd Pletcher.

"History tells us that you can't throw anyone out," Pletcher told CBS before the race. "There have been some winners the past few years that have been way down everybody's depth charts."

Next up in the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 19 and the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Eleven horses have ever won the Triple Crown, but not since Affirmed in 1978.

I'll Have Another is a Kentucky-bred horse that was passed over by many, selling for just $11,000 as a yearling.

The horse won the Santa Anita Derby and Robert B. Lewis races to impress oddsmakers.

Canada is also enjoying the victory.

I'll Have Another is owned by Reddam, a Windsor, Ont., native, CBC News said, and Gutierrez trained for six years in Vancouver.

"I was just kind of numb through the whole race and blink my eyes and it was over," said Reddam. "This team has just been terrific."