Always Dreaming lives the dream, winning the Kentucky Derby

Always Dreaming won the muddy 143rd Kentucky Derby by nearly eight lengths.

The horse ran second through the first half of the race. Jockey John Velazquez took the lead on the back stretch, then opened it up around the far turn. No one came close as the horse cruised to victory with a 7 3/4-length lead.

Always Dreaming was a co-favorite with Irish War Cry at 9-2 odds.

Two long shots, Lookin at Lee and Battle of Midway were second and third. Pre-race favorite Classic Empire finished fourth.

Two days of rain had turned the track into mud soup, which makes it difficult to predict which horses might have an advantage at the Preakness stakes the next leg of the Triple Crown.