Justify Wins 2018 Kentucky Derby; Good Magic, Audible Place, Show

Justify lived up to expectations as the favorite in the 144th Kentucky Derby, pulling away from the field down the stretch to win at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

The horse took over down the stretch on a sloppy track, finishing ahead of Good Magic in second place and Audible in third.

The win was the fifth career victory at the Kentucky Derby for trainer Bob Baffert as well as the second for jockey Mike Smith.

Justify is also the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Run for the Roses after not racing as a two-year-old, per ESPN Stats & Info.

OddsShark provided the final odds for the top finishers in the race:

This marked the sixth year in a row that the favorite entered the winner's circle, extending the longest streak in history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

NBC Sports provided a look at the payout figures:

Final Kentucky Derby Results

Win ($1.24 million): Justify; Jockey: Mike Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert

Place ($400,000): Good Magic (-2 ½ lengths); Jockey: Jose Ortiz; Trainer: Chad Brown

Show ($200,000): Audible (-2 ½ lengths); Jockey: Javier Castellano; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

4th ($100,000): Instilled Regard (-4 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke; Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

5th ($60,000): My Boy Jack (-7 lengths); Jockey: Kent Desormeaux; Trainer: J. Keith Desormeaux

6th: Bravazo (-8 lengths); Jockey: Luis Contreras; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

7th: Hofburg (-8 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.; Trainer: William Mott

8th: Lone Sailor (-9 ¼ lengths); Jockey: James Graham; Trainer: Thomas Amoss

9th: Vino Rosso (-10 ½ lengths); Jockey: John Velazquez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

10th: Solomini (-11 lengths); Jockey: Flavien Prat; Trainer: Bob Baffert

11th: Firenze Fire (-23 ½ lengths); Jockey: Paco Lopez; Trainer: Jason Servis

12th: Bolt d'Oro (-24 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Victor Espinoza; Trainer: Mick Ruis

13th: Flameaway (-30 ½ lengths); Jockey: Jose Lezcano; Trainer: Mark Casse

14th: Enticed (-34 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Junior Alvarado; Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

15th: Promises Fulfilled (-39 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Corey Lanerie; Trainer: Dale Romans

16th: Free Drop Billy (-41 lengths); Jockey: Robby Albarado; Trainer: Dale Romans

17th: Noble Indy (-42 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Florent Geroux; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

18th: Combatant (-42 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.; Trainer: Steven Asmussen

19th: Magnum Moon (-49 ½ lengths); Jockey: Luis Saez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

20th: Mendelssohn (-73 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Ryan Moore; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

The win secures an estimated $1.24 million for the owners and everyone involved, per Dave DeLuca of Sporting News. For Baffert, it was the 13th career victory in a Triple Crown event.

As the trainer of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Baffert believes this new horse is as good as his previous best.

"That's greatness right there," the 65-year-old said after the race, per David Greening of Daily Racing Form. "When he won his second race we were in Pharoah territory."

A relatively low-key celebration followed the win:

Even as the odds-on favorite, Justify's success was far from a sure thing with about a half-dozen competitors also with short odds. However, he was able to get in good position right out of the starting gate.

Promises Fulfilled was the pace-setter in front through the first turn, but the No. 7 horse moved in front by the ¾-mile mark and never looked back. Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form gave his thoughts on the winner:

While Good Magic and Audible kept things close at the end, they weren't able to grab the lead. Instilled Regard finished in fourth place.

The race was a challenge for every competitor because of rain, as WDRB's Katie George pointed out earlier in the day, via Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde:

Per Steve Almasy of CNN, the race was the wettest in history with 2.8 inches of rainfall Saturday. It didn't get too much better by post time, but the best horse survived the conditions and came through with a win.

Justify will now have two weeks of rest before an expected return to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore at the Preakness Stakes on May 19. Neither of the last two Kentucky Derby winners have been able to win a second leg of the Triple Crown, but he will try to end that streak after an impressive performance Saturday.