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Epicenter, who went off as a favorite, finished second, and Zandon came in third. Rich Strike drew into the race just one day ago after Ethereal Road was scratched. Owner Rick Dawson told NBC that he entered Rich Strike "30 seconds before the deadline.

Probably bigger. You only have one player. I'm so happy. He'd been training so good all year. The second leg of this year's Triple Crown — the Preakness Stakes — will take place on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

For more on the Kentucky Derby, follow The Athletic 's live coverage here. Katherine Terrell, staff writer: An absolutely masterful ride.

Rich Strike was taken back out from post 20 and hustled over to the middle of the pack. His jockey let him trail the pack for a while as an incredibly fast pace was set up front.

Leon weaved him through traffic and shot down the rail, picking off the two tired leaders with energy to spare. Terrell: Country House was a shocker in after Maximum Security was disqualified, and nobody could forget shot Mine That Bird coming down the rail in , but this was an absolute stunner.

Rich Strike didn't even make the race until Friday morning when another horse was scratched, and nothing up to this point has shown that he was capable of winning such a major race.

This certainly shows that anything can happen on the first Saturday in May. While the trainer tempers his enthusiasm for his horse with an admission that he was a rightful to-1 shot, he also says he believed all year that he had a Derby horse.

AP — Two long shots winning the Kentucky Derby over the past four years might be coincidental, but they also are a reminder not to dismiss any of the 19 horses running Saturday at Churchill Downs.

His remarkable run still generates buzz, which might stir interest in nine starters saddled with morning line odds of to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has the top two 3-year-old choices on Saturday in Forte , who is on a five-race winning streak, and Tapit Trice , who rallied to win the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Angel of Empire is the third choice and trained by Louisville-born Brad Cox. Disarm, Hit Show, Cyclone Mischief — who got in on Thursday after Practical Move was scratched — and Rocket Can are listed as Japan-bred horse Mandarin Hero, who replaced Lord Miles following trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The qualifying process begins in the fall with points awarded to the top four in selected graded stakes races, increasing in value in early spring championship races that largely determine the field and presumed favorites.

Rich Strike was the first of two also-eligibles poised to get in with a defection, which occurred at the last minute when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas scratched Ethereal Road the Friday before the Derby.

Little was known about Rich Strike, hence the high odds, but the racing world quickly learned about him as he navigated from the outside No. His run was no fluke, considering he was fourth or better in three preceding stakes races.

Tempting as it might be for bettors to think it could happen again Saturday and take a chance on long shots, Moore believes those wagers will be more recreational wagers than primary. But as Rich Strike demonstrated last year, anything is possible in the Derby if everything falls into place.