Who won the Kentucky Derby in 2023? Full results, finish order & highlights from the race
After a turbulent week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, in which five horses were scrapped from the race, horseracing’s most famous event ended with a powerful story.
Mage came from behind to take the crown, outperforming Two Phils on the stretch and holding off the Empire’s favorite Angel to claim the win.
Venezuelan coach Gustavo Delgado won his first Kentucky Derby, a moment that made him almost too emotional to talk after the race ended. Hall of Famer jockey Javier Castellano, without a win in 15 previous Kentucky Derby heats, eventually peaked at number 16.
Anyone who dared to bet on Mage was rewarded. At odds of 15-1, Mage wasn’t among the pre-race favourites, even after Forte’s early retirement on Saturday.
It’s not quite the massive excitement that drew Rich Strike a year ago, but it’s another year where the Kentucky Derby winner wasn’t the most popular choice to enter the “greatest two minutes in sport.”
Bettors weren’t the only ones who will benefit from the win. Mage is owned by 391 shareholders, so there are hundreds of enthusiastic investors backing the right horse.
Derby winner Mage is owned by Commonwealth, a public company that allows people to invest as little as $50 in athletes, including horses and golfers. Big boost for the app.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 6, 2023
MORE: Watch the Kentucky Derby Live with Fubo (Free Trial)
The Sporting News followed live updates and results from the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Check out all the important moments you might have missed.
Kentucky Derby finish order
This section will be updated once full results are available.
| command | Horse | opportunities |
| 1 | magician | 15-1 |
| 2 | Two phils | 9-1 |
| 3 | Angels of the Empire | 7-2 |
| 4 | Disarm | 26-1 |
| 5 | Click View | 24-1 |
| 6 | Derma Sotogake | 8-1 |
| 7 | Tapit Trice | 9-1 |
| 8th | Raise Cain | 32-1 |
| 9 | rocket can | 27-1 |
| 10 | trust game | 20-1 |
| 11 | sun thunder | 32-1 |
| 12 | Mandarin hero | 18-1 |
| 13 | reincarnate | 14-1 |
| 14 | royal barn | 11-1 |
| 15 | King Russel | 31-1 |
| 16 | examination | 14-1 |
| 17 | Jace’s Road | 32-1 |
| 18 | Cyclone Calamity | 28-1 |
Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby
The full schedule of the Kentucky Derby is below.
The complete process of the 149th #KyDerby where MAGE emerged victorious! pic.twitter.com/hLKQsiZ835
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 6, 2023
Kentucky Derby live updates, highlights, results
(All times Easter)
19:05 — Mage got past Two Phil’s and a late surge from favorite Angel of Empire was just too late.
19:03 — MAGE PASSES THE LEADERS AND WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY! After all the fuss over the favorites, the horse comes from behind at odds of 15-1 and wins.
19:02 — Kingsbarns takes the lead! Two Phil is second.
19:01 — Verifying has an early lead with Kingsbarns just behind.
19.00 – Here we go!
18:57 — Her official favorite is Angel of Empire at 4:1. Horses are still coming…
18:52 — The pre-race fanfare is winding down and we are just minutes from the horses being in position.
18:45 — Patrick Mahomes gives the “Riders up!” Call, but Louisville is not far from Cincinnati…
While @PatrickMahomes said the “Rider’s Up” call, people in the crowd started to “boo”. pic.twitter.com/ef3OITz4nl
— Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez (@SoyAnaAlvarez) May 6, 2023
18:42 — We are officially 15 minutes ahead of post office time at Churchill Downs.
18:39 — Josh Allen and his offseason hair go with Disarm.
.@JoshAllenQB has his #KyDerby Bet… and jokes. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/JK6fUdfHiH
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 6, 2023
18:19 — The Kentucky Derby horses are on their way. Horses and trainers go through the traditional walkover, with post time less than 40 minutes away.
18:07 — Mattress Mack just bet $1.2 million on Angel of Empire live on NBC, and it was enough to drop the horse’s odds to 4-1.
17:56 — Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire remain co-favorites at odds of 9-2, followed by Derma Sotogke at 7-1.
17:29 — A great moment during early racing today as Cody’s Wish wins the Churchill Downs ahead of namesake Cody Dorman, a teenager who was born with a rare genetic disorder.
Unbelievable!
Cody’s Wish wins the Churchill Downs. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PaU7qSLrHA
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 6, 2023
16:25 — Unfortunately, Derby Day was marred by two more deaths. Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point were both euthanized after suffering leg injuries in the opening races of the day, which only raised further questions about track conditions at Churchill Downs.
16:07 — Patrick Mahomes and Mattress Mack meet at Churchill Downs. Mahomes will launch the “Riders up!” Call before the race.
“You cost me millions to bet against you.”
Mahomes and Mattress Mack met at the Kentucky Derby 😂 pic.twitter.com/gqMYe7FAC4
— br_betting (@br_betting) May 6, 2023
13:23 — Forte’s exit dramatically shifted the staking lines, making Jace’s road the longest shot at just 32-1. Rich Strike won last year by odds of 80:1. Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire are co-favorites at 9-2.
9:11 am — Derby Day begins with another scratch, the fifth of the week and by far the most significant. Race favorite Forte is out after vets raised concerns about an injured right front foot.
Forte scratched from the #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/JoLvoAURXu
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 6, 2023
2023 Kentucky Derby Post Time
- Date: Saturday May 6th
- Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ABC
- Live broadcast: peacock | NBC Sports App | fubo
NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby begins at 12 p.m. ET, almost seven hours ahead of the postal time for the Triple Crown first leg. Churchill Downs will have more races throughout the day with the first post time set at 10:30am ET.
Viewers can also stream the Kentucky Derby on Peacock, the NBC Sports app, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.