Orb, a son of Malibu Moon, scored just once in four starts as a juvenile. Photo / Thinkstock
The heavily fancied Orb, a sentimental favourite in his trainer's home state, landed a hugely popular victory at a mud-splattered Churchill Downs with a come-from-behind success in the Kentucky Derby yesterday.
With late money ensuring he was sent off the 5.4-1 favourite, the Florida Derby winner was kept well out
of a ridiculous pace in the early stages by his Dubai World Cup-winning jockey Joel Rosario before circling the field to hit the front a furlong out.
He went on to claim the United States' greatest race by 2 lengths in a time of 2:02.89s on a surface officially described as sloppy; the crowd figure was a massive 151,616, despite filthy conditions, reports the Racing Post.
Rank outsider Golden Soul finished to good effect to run second in the US$2.2 million event, just ahead of Revolutionary, Normandy Invasion and Mylute.
All the principals came from well off the pace in a race where Irish contender Lines Of Battle ran respectably enough under Ryan Moore to come seventh on his dirt debut.
