80-1 Odds Longshot Horse Takes The Kentucky Derby In Major Upset

Everyone came into the Kentucky Derby weekend expecting a return to normalcy but got a shot in the arm of outrageousness and excitement with the win of a horse with 80-1 odds.

4-1 favorite, Epicenter, and Zandon were in a head-to-head race that looked like it was going to be a photo finish until Rich Strike came from behind the second-biggest upset in the Derby's nearly 150-year history.

"I about fell down in the paddock when he hit the wire,'' winning trainer Eric Reed said. "I about passed out.''

Rich Strike's betters had a pay out of $163.60, with only Donerail in 1913 had a higher payout at $184.90.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas had to scratch a horse Friday morning, making room for the horse who only had two wins in his whole career.

"We found out about 30 seconds before the deadline on Friday," Rich Strike owner Rick Dawson said. "It put us in the race, and, really, we always felt if we just got in we've got a shot."

"I can't believe it after Epicenter's effort," said losing trainer Steve Asmussen, who fell to 0-for-24 in the Derby. "I got beat by the horse that just got in."

Mattress Mack, the furniture KING of the south, is known for the large bets he places on just about any sporting event.

Mack put $1.5 million on Epicenter to win, but Epicenter took second place to Rich Strike.

But, unfortunately for him, he not only lost that bet, but also another $1.1 million on various other bets.

“I thought I was home,” Mack told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It reminded me of the Bengals-Rams gut punch.”

Mack famously had a loss of $9.5 million on the 2022 Super Bowl.

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