On Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, 157,000 fans gathered to watch the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby.
In very rainy and muddy conditions, Justify, a 7-2 favorite, won the Derby with jockey Mike Smith.
The Curse of Apollo is over!
Justify is the winner of the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby. Watch the full race replay, presented by @rocketmortgage. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/CVkPSPlNhh
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 5, 2018
After the race, Smith was interviewed on the track and before he could talk about how the victory transpired, he made sure he gave thanks to the one he puts his faith and trust in.
Special race! Not even a drop of mud on him-white as snow…Congratulations Mike Smith 🙌🏼 giving the Glory to #Jesus the author of justification, on a horse named #Justify!! #blessing #Godreigns #KentuckyDerby2018 pic.twitter.com/hDs5jSRcIH
— Teri Massick (@TeriMassick) May 6, 2018
“I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing us on this afternoon and blessing us with this amazing horse.”
Smith, when interviewed on ESPN said his strategy was first things first with God and then to take care of business.
“My strategy going in is to pray to the Lord first of all and then just hope for a good break. (The horse) is just so above average. Just an unbelievable horse, he really is.”
Smith, 52, earned his second Derby victory and his first since 2005. He is the second-oldest Derby winner behind Bill Shoemaker, who rode Ferdinand to victory in 1986 at age 54.
Next up on the road to the Triple Crown is the Preakness in Baltimore on May 19.
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