The white-haired trainer smashed a jinx that stood for 136 years when Justify splashed through the slop to win the Kentucky Derby by 21/2 lengths on Saturday. Mike Smith earned his second Derby victory, becoming at 52 the second-oldest winning jockey. The chestnut colt that began his career in February improved to 4-0 — winning his races by a combined 211/2 lengths — and gave Baffert his fifth Derby victory. Justify won his career debut on Feb. 18 at Santa Anita under 23-year-old Drayden Van Dyke. Mendelssohn, trying to become the first Europe-based horse to win the Derby, finished last.

Source: thestar May 05, 2018 23:15 UTC