Justify reigns in the rain at Kentucky Derby as Mendelssohn flounders

• Justify becomes first winner not to race as juvenile since 1882
• Mendelssohn fails in bid to be first European-trained winner

Mendelssohn’s ambitious attempt to become the first European-trained winner of the Kentucky Derby floundered on a sloppy, rain-drenched track here on Saturday as Bob Baffert’s Justify laid another long-standing hoodoo with victory in the 144th running of the race.

Leading up to this year’s contest, much was made – as it always is – of the fact that no horse since 1882 had won without racing as a juvenile. Justify, though, made light of the difficult conditions and his relative inexperience as he took up the running towards the end of the back stretch. He led from there to the line under Mike Smith to become the sixth consecutive favourite to win the race.

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from US news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2jxhJiD
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