Dream race at Derby

Always Dreaming overcomes a wet track to win the Run for the Roses.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A trainer and jockey accustomed to success. A headstrong horse with a mind of its own. Together, they harnessed their collective talents to win the Kentucky Derby.

Always Dreaming splashed through the slop for a 2¾-length victory on Saturday, giving Todd Pletcher and rider John Velazquez their second victories in the race but their first together.

The New York-based duo has teamed up often over the years and is the sport’s leading money winners. On their own, they were a combined 2 for 63 coming into America’s greatest race.

Joining forces, they were unbeatable on a cool and rainy day at Churchill Downs.

“We have had a great relationship for a long time now, and we have won a lot of races together,” Pletcher said. “This is the one we wanted to win together.”

Sent off at 9-2 odds, Always Dreaming made it the fifth straight year that a Derby favorite has won, the longest such stretch since the 1970s.

He was followed across the finish line by a pair of long shots: 33-1 Lookin At Lee and 40-1 Battle of Midway.

Always Dreaming ran 1¼ miles in 2:03.59 and paid $11.40, $7.20 and $5.80.

“This is the best horse Todd and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with,” Velazquez said. “Being behind me for 24 years together, a long time for him to still trust in me and give me the opportunity, it’s not very often it happens in this business.” Teary-eyed in triumph

Lookin At Lee returned $26.60 and $18.20, while Battle of Midway was another five lengths back in third and paid $20.80 to show.

Pletcher won his first Derby in 2010 with Super Saver; Velazquez won the following year with Animal Kingdom.

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Always Dreaming, right, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field into the stretch du

Trainer Todd Pletcher, center, celebrates with jockey John Velazquez and horse owner Vincent Viola after Always Dreaming won the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.