Serpentine grabs the lead and never stops en route to Epsom Derby upset

If Serpentine was meant to be a pacemaker for a more highly regarded Aidan O’Brien-trained runner in the Epsom Derby, they forgot to tell him.

Serpentine snaked out to a large early advantage and as furlong after furlong of the 1 ½-mile English classic unfurled, it became more and more apparent he wasn’t stopping. Clear a half-mile out, well in front a quarter-mile from the finish, and home a 5 1/2-length winner, Serpentine gave O’Brien an eighth Derby but very much a first for 30-year-old Irish jockey Emmet McNamara, riding his first Derby.

Serpentine was making his fourth start on Saturday and he had just won a maiden race June 27 in Ireland. He was a 25-1 chance in England and paid $65 in North American wagering.

“I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse, having spoken to Aidan during the week,” McNamara said. “He filled me with confidence and said that he is a horse that is going to stay a mile and six furlongs for you well. He said jump, go your own tempo, from halfway after you give him a breather from the six to the five [furlong markers], you keep building to that winning post, and he will keep going. God, he was right!”

By Galileo out of Remember When, by Danehill Dancer, Serpentine raced by himself the entire trip, no pace pressure to be found as his courage built and his inborn stamina kept him churning.

"I couldn't hear a thing, I could just hear the horse breathing,” said McNamara. “He was in a good rhythm; he was relaxed. I couldn't hear a thing around me; I didn't want to be looking. I knew I was a few clear, all right.”

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The Derby was conducted spectator free, but few fans would’ve been cheering this unexpected result, in any case. O’Brien, who won the Derby last year with Anthony Van Dyck, engineered a comparable upset in 2017, when 40-1 shot Wings of Eagles came from far off the pace under little-known Padraig Beggy.

Khalifa Sat, who was a 75-1 shot on the North American tote, finished second by a half-length over another 75-1 shot, third place Amhran Na Bhfiann, the $1 trifecta returning $29,882. Amhran Na Bhfiann won a three-horse photo over fourth place Kameko, winner of the English 2000 Guineas, and race favorite English King. Winning time for 1 ½ miles over a good course was 2:04.43, a solid clocking from an unexpected winner.