MeB Racing Stables, Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, St. Elias Stable, Siena Farm, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ favored Always Dreaming shook clear of longshot State of Honor at the half-mile pole, opened a daylight advantage and cruised to a 2 ¾-length victory over Lookin At Lee to win the 143rd running of the $2,395,800 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) for 3-year-olds before a crowd of 158,070, the seventh largest in Derby history.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Always Dreaming covered the 1 1/4 miles on a wet-fast track in 2:03.59.

For Pletcher and Velazquez, it was their second taste of Kentucky Derby glory. Pletcher had saddled 2010 winner Super Saver and a year later Velazquez piloted Animal Kingdom to victory.

The victory was worth $1,635,800 to the Kentucky-bred son of Bodemeister out of the In Excess (IRE) mare Above Perfection. Saturday’s payday increased his earnings to $2,284,700 with a record of 6-4-1-1 with two Grade I victories in as many attempts. In his previous start, Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby