Justify wins sloppy Kentucky Derby, Baffert takes 5th title

ByBETH HARRIS AP logo
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Justify wins sloppy Kentucky Derby
Justify wins the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Justify splashed through the slop to win the Kentucky Derby by 2 lengths on Saturday, becoming the first colt in 136 years to wear the roses after not racing as a 2-year-old.

The colt that began his racing career in February improved to 4-0 and gave Bob Baffert his fifth Derby victory. That snapped a tie and left the 65-year-old trainer trailing only Ben Jones with six.

Mike Smith earned his second Derby victory. The 52-year-old jockey crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs with only a few specks of mud on his white and green silks in the rainiest Derby in the race's 144-year history.

Justify, the 5-2 favorite in the field of 20, ran 1 miles in 2:04.20.

Good Magic finished second and Audible was another head back in third.