No surprise, Justify wins the muddiest Kentucky Derby ever

Pre-race favorite Justify justified the hype, running off with the roses Saturday in what is officially the wettest Kentucky Derby in the 144-year history of the race.

In the process, the 3-year-old colt ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Bob Baffert ended a 136-year run since a horse won the Derby without having raced at age 2.

With the so-called “Curse of Apollo” reversed, Justify’s connections can now turn their sights toward a Triple Crown bid. The Preakness will be contested May 19, with the Belmont on tap for June 9.

Enduring some three inches of rain, Justify’s 2½-length victory also extends the streak of favorites winning the Derby to six straight years, longest in the history of the race.

Justify has wasted little time rocketing to the forefront of thoroughbred racing, undefeated in his first four starts. His first career race was in mid-February, and the California-based horse has defeated all comers since.

A rain-soaked crowd of 157,813 watched Good Magic finish second to Justify, with Audible third. Justify paid $7.80 to win, with the exacta and trifectas paying $69.60 and $141.40, respectively.

The winning time was 2:02.04, well off Secretariat’s 1973 Derby record of 1:59.