Mage roars from behind to win Kentucky Derby amid seventh death
by Guardian sport and agencies from US news | The Guardian on (#6BGMB)
- Early Kentucky Derby favorite Forte scratched from race
- Seven horses have died at Churchill Downs in recent days
- Banicki: What do Derby horses feel? Mostly fear and pain
Two more horses died in the hours before 15-1 shot Mage won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capping a rocky stretch in which seven in all died and casting a shadow over the 149th edition of the world's most famous race.
Mage had only one victory in three previous races before holding off 9-1 shot Two Phil's in the stretch. The colt, who didn't race as a two-year-old, ran one and a quarter miles in 2:01.57 under Javier Castellano.
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