LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The margin was a nose but the smiles were a mile wide. In one of the closest finishes in almost 30 years, Mystik Dan won the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

The horse was generally overlooked by most but he ran a smart race on the rail and poked his head in front in the final strides to hold off Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the blanket finish.

It also completed a rare double for trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, who also won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday with Thorpedo Anna. It was only the fourth time that has been done.

“That was the longest few minutes in my life I’ve spent waiting for them to hang the dang number up,” Hernandez said.

McPeek was effusive with his praise for Hernandez.

“Brian did an amazing job,” McPeek said. “He’s just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey. He’s probably one of the most underrated riders in the business. But not anymore.”

Mystik Dan paid $39.22 to win.

The 3-year-old colt found his way to Churchill Downs with a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby and a win in the Southwest Stakes, both at Oaklawn.

Mystik Dan likely will have a rematch with the Arkansas Derby winner, Muth, in two weeks at the Preakness.

Fierceness, the favorite, finished 15th, proving he may well be a “bounce” horse, running well every other race.

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