LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Machen chased down Dominus in the final strides to win the $200,000 Derby Trial on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Machen loped around the track early in the race only coming to life in the deep stretch. Jockey Edgar Prado swung Machen wide at the top of the stretch and the horse responded with a furious dash to the wire, nipping Dominus at the line in the 1-mile race for 3-year-olds.
Machen paid $15.40, $8 and $5.60 for trainer Neil Howard while covering the distance in 1:35.47. Dominus, with Julien Leparoux up, appeared to be in control after racing by heavy favorite Travelin Man in the stretch and paid $6.80 and $4.80.
JJ’s Lucky Train got up for third and paid $4.40 in front of a raucous crowd on the opening night of Churchill Downs’ spring meet.
