2024 Kentucky Derby results, winner: Mystik Dan takes 150th Run for the Roses by a nose in epic photo finish

Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. also won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs

Mystik Dan has won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish. Mystik Dan just barely beat out Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose in a photo finish as all three reached the finish line.

This is now the 26th time that the Kentucky Derby has been decided by the length of a neck or less, and Mystik Dan reached the winner's circle in one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory at Churchill Downs. 

Mystik Dan took the lead down the backstretch and it looked like no horse would be able to catch him, but that's when both Sierra Leone and Forever Young made their move. As Mystik Dan began to slow a bit nearing the finish line, the two horses -- seemingly pinned to one another -- made the hard sprint to the finish line and nearly stole the victory away.

Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. also won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs, making them just the second tandem to accomplish the feat.

In the immediate aftermath of the race, McPeek gave all the credit to Hernandez. McPeek said Hernandez has flown under the radar for a while, but those days are gone now.

"Brian just did an amazing job," McPeek told NBC in a on-track interview. "Just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey and ride. I mean, the draw helped us from the beginning. We talked about that. ... Brian is amazing. Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing, but not anymore."

Because of the razor-thin margin of victory, everyone had to wait several minutes for an official winner to be declared. Hernandez described that anticipation as "the longest few minutes I've ever felt in my life." Hernandez also said winning the Kentucky Derby fulfills a childhood dream for him.

"This is a lifetime achievement," Hernandez said. "This goes to our whole family. We've worked all our lives for this. It's hard to describe what kind of feeling this is. I told myself I was never going to step into the Derby winner's circle until I could do it on the back of a horse. To be able to live that dream from when I was a six-year-old kid riding my bike around my grandparents' farm telling them I was going to win the Kentucky Derby one day. Here we are."

Race favorite Fierceness started out strong, running with the leaders early. But down the stretch, he faded quickly to back and finished a disappointing 15th. 

Check out the full results below. CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the Kentucky Derby. Thanks for stopping by.

2024 Kentucky Derby payouts

3 - Mystik Dan WIN: $39.22 PLACE: $16.32 SHOW: $10.00
2 - Sierra Leone PLACE: $6.54 SHOW: $4.64
11 - Forever Young SHOW: $5.58

$2.00 Exacta (3-2) $258.56
$1.00 Trifecta (3-2-11) $1,113.84
$1.00 Superfecta (3-2-11-4) $8,254.00

Complete results

1. Mystik Dan
2. Sierra Leone
3. Forever Young
4. Catching Freedom
5. TO Password
6. Resilience
7. Stronghold
8. Honor Marie
9. Endlessly
10. Dornoch
11. Track Phantom
12. West Saratoga
13. Domestic Product
14. Epic Ride
15. Fierceness
16. Society Man
17. Just Steel
18. Grand Mo the First
19. Catalytic
20. Just a Touch

[May 4, 2024 at 7:00 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

The horses are making their way to the starting gate now. After all the pageantry, big hats, betting and mint juleps, there's nothing left to do but race and crown a new Kentucky Derby winner.