LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY(SMI-SPORTS, MAY 07, 2022)-The Kentucky Derby celebrated its 148th Run for the Roses today May 07, with 80-1 long shot "Rich Strike " winning the 2022 Kentucky Derby, stunning the crowd, and pulling one of the biggest upset in the history of the Triple-Crown derby races at Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky.

Rich Strike  who was ridden by jockey Sonny Leon and was not scheduled to compete in the 2022 Kentucky Derby prior to Friday's morning, entered the race after Ethereal Road scratched with 80-1 odds. He wins the first leg of the 2022 Triple Crown races outlasting two of the favorite horses: Epicenter (4-1 Odds)  & Zandon ( 6-1 Odds) in the 1/8 mile run down the stretch  and crossing the finish line first in 2.02.61.

Sonny Leon, a jockey from Venezuela wins his first Derby and the Kentucky's purse of $1.86 Million for first prize. He also becomes the second jockey of the South-American country since Gustavo Avila won with " Canonero II" the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1971.