Orb gave all of his connections a first win in the Kentucky Derby (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Though the rains came early on Kentucky Derby Day and stuck around for much of the festivities, it wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of Lexington, Kentucky, native Shug McGaughey as the veteran horseman and Hall of Famer watched his colt Orb come running late over the sloppy, sealed Churchill Downs oval to score a decisive 2 1/2-length victory in Derby 139.

"It's a huge, huge thrill for me. It's a race I've always wanted to win, a race I've always wanted to compete in if I thought I had the right horse, and finally today we had the right horse," McGaughey said.

"I don't know what it will be like tomorrow morning when I pinch myself and figure all this out, but there's a lot of people to thank and I'm just the guy that pushed the button, but with (owners) Stuart (Janney) and Dinny (Phipps) and the people in my barn, put so much time and pride into Orb as well as all the rest of them, they're the real key, and like I say, I'm the lucky one that gets the accolades and the trophy.

"The Phippses and Janneys, has been my whole life for 20 some years now, and have really kind of given me everything I've got. I'm so appreciative to them," he continued. "I'm extremely proud to be able to work with people such as this. To bring a day like today into their -- into all our lives -- is just a huge, huge thrill for me. All I can do is just say thanks for the opportunity."

A mud-caked Orb powers home in Derby 139 (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Despite all that, the horseman endeavored to enjoy the whole experience once again.

"I said to myself, when this all got in the process, that I was going to go over there and have fun, and I've been excited. I was excited today a lot more than being nervous, and I did think I had the right horse.

"He'd done everything well. He did everything well all winter," McGaughey added. "We shipped him up here, all that went well. He seemed to get over the track. Every day we trained him, he got over the track good. He had a great workout here on Monday and he was terrific in the paddock today and post parade and going in the gate, and so when they swung the latch, I thought to myself, just enjoy the race. If it works, it works, if it doesn't, it doesn't. Luckily it did work today."

Not only was this the first Derby win for McGaughey, but also jockey Joel Rosario and the homebred Orb's owners, longtime industry stalwarts Stuart S. Janney III and Phipps Stables.

"I think it's terrific, absolutely wonderful. It's really the culmination of horse racing, and I am thrilled to be here today," Phipps said.

Dinny Phipps (left) and Stuart Janney were all smiles following Orb's Derby win (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com)

"I remember when Shug was inducted into the Hall of Fame that he said at the end of his speech, I really would like to win a Kentucky Derby for Stuart or Dinny, and I thought, well, that's a good sign because we don't want him laying down after he gets in the Hall of Fame.

"So we like thinking forwardly," added Janney, before laughing, "But I think he's been very smart to pick one of the horses in the barn that the two of us own together so he doesn't have to worry about that particular promise with one disappointed owner and one very happy owner."

Derby 139 started off pretty quick for most, though Java's War missed the break and sported the field a couple lengths. Palace Malice, on the other hand, set the early pace through a swift first quarter in :22 2/5 and the half in :45 1/5 while Rosario patiently settled Orb well back near the rear of the field while about three wide off the rail.

The early pace took its toll on the longtime leader, who got three-quarters in 1:09 4/5, and Normandy Invasion was the first to pounce on the tiring Palace Malice. For a brief moment, the well-named colt looked ready to give the veterans who traveled from across the United States to watch is Derby run a triumphant win in the 1 1/4-mile classic, sweeping past the pacesetter entering the stretch and motoring through a mile in 1:36.

Orb and jockey Joel Rosario were led into the winner's circle by trainer Shug McGaughey (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

"You see this man right there? That's my agent. He's the one to make all the calls, so he's been doing very good for me, and he's a great agent," Rosario praised Ron Anderson. "I kind of feel like after I got him, things went really well for me. I'm really happy about it."

Orb was sent off the 5-1 favorite in the 19-horse Derby field, paying $12.80, $7.40 and $5.40. The $2 Oaks-Derby Double, with Princess of Sylmar taking the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, was worth $621.40.

Golden Soul filled out the runner-up spot, while another length back Revolutionary, Normandy Invasion and Mylute were separated by only two heads on the wire.

"I really had a great trip," said Mylute's rider, Rosie Napravnik, who was attempting to become the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Derby.

"(Trainer) Tom's (Amoss) instructions were to just let him fall out of the gate. Run like he likes to run. So I was a little further back than I had hoped to be going into the first turn. We were right inside of Orb the whole way and I knew we were in good shape. We did have to go around but it was a clear run.

Orb will continue his quest for Triple Crown glory in the Preakness (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

Oxbow filled out the sixth spot while completing the order of finish were Lines of Battle, Will Take Charge, Charming Kitten, Giant Finish, Overanalyze, Palace Malice, Java's War, Verrazano, Itsmyluckyday, Frac Daddy, Goldencents, Vyjack and Falling Sky. Black Onyx was an early scratch on Friday and Fear the Kitten didn't draw in from the also-eligible list.

Orb began his Kentucky Derby quest last August at Saratoga, finishing third in a maiden special weight. He was a well-beaten fourth at Belmont next out, probably due to acting up in the gate prior to the race, and filled that same spot at Aqueduct in November before finally breaking through with a first win on November 24 at the Big A.

That would be the bay colt's final start as a juvenile, but he hasn't lost since. A nice win at Gulfstream Park opened his sophomore season on January 26, and Orb proceeded to take the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby prior to Saturday's Run for the Roses.

Now owning just an 8-5-0-1 mark, the Kentucky-bred colt has banked $2,335,850 thanks to the winner's share of the $2,174,800 Derby purse.