2013 Kentucky Derby Winner: Orb Provides Shug McGaughey with Long-Awaited Title

The 2013 Kentucky Derby is officially in the books, as Orb won the 139th running of The Run for the Roses. When the two most exciting minutes in sports were completed, Orb reshaped the legacy of one of horse racing's greatest trainers.

Hall of Famer Claude R. McGaughey has finally won the Kentucky Derby.

McGaughey, commonly known by his nickname of "Shug," has been a thoroughbred horse trainer since 1979. In that time, he's developed a reputation as one of the most high-class trainers in the world.

Until now, however, it had been a Hall of Fame career without the victory that defines legacies.

You couldn't find a more deserving trainer.

He first joined forces with owner Ogden Mills Phipps in 1986. Twenty-seven years later, the two can now look back on their decision to come together as a legendarily brilliant decision.

They've now won the 1989 Belmont Stakes and 2013 Kentucky Derby titles as a tandem, thus becoming one of the most decorated duos in the world.

Even as McGaughey further built upon his legend as a trainer, it was clear that his focus was elsewhere. Instead of calling his own number, he opted to send the praise to another party involved.

Consider this to be the road every great trainer would take.

Classy and admirable.

McGaughey is no stranger to elite-level horses, as he's trained the likes of Easy Goer, Personal Ensign and Lure. He's won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer, but he never managed to win the event held in his home state of Kentucky.

Until the 2013 event.

McGaughey is widely respected and admired as one of the best trainers in the world. He's a consummate professional, a true success story and the caliber individual to have won this race multiple times thus far.

Who said 62 is too late for your first time?

From here, McGaughey will be looking to add another first as he leads Orb into the 2013 Preakness Stakes. While there, McGaughey will have a chance to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.

No one's done it since Affirmed in 1978, but that doesn't make it an impossible feat. After all, Orb is the hottest horse in all of racing having won both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby thus far in 2013.

Until then, McGaughey has solidified his status as an active legend in the horse racing community with his first career Kentucky Derby victory.