O'Brien equals Epsom Derby record with Anthony Van Dyck's win

With seven entries in Saturday’s Epsom Derby and most of them in contention late, Aiden O’Brien figured to win Europe’s classic 1 1/2-mile race. The great trainer did so with Anthony Van Dyck, who ran up the inside under jockey Seamie Heffernan to cap a thriller.

The victory gave O'Brien a record-tying seventh Epsom Derby victory. Three other conditioners are tied atop the list, but the most recent to land there, Fred Darling, won his seventh in 1941.

"It's incredible," O'Brien said. "I'm so delighted for everybody and so privileged to be part of the team."

It was a blanket finish for the runner-up spot taken by Madhmoon over Japan in a photo, while Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line of Duty contended in the stretch but never quite reached the front. Sir Dragonet — another of O’Brien’s runners — put a head in front late before Anthony Van Dyck surged up the rail.

Broome ran fourth and Sir Dragonet fifth, giving O'Brien four of the first five in the running order.

"We were just hoping," O'Brien said. "We were just delighted to be involved."

Anthony Van Dyck, a Coolmore-owned 3-year-old, is a son of Galileo, who was represented by six contenders in the field. The colt ran ninth in his 2-year-old finale in the Breeders' Cup before coming back to win Lingfield's May 11 Derby Trial in his lone prep.

“I’m always confident riding for Aidan," said Heffernan, who won his first Epsom Derby. "Anything can happen. It doesn’t matter whether they’re a favorite or a big price. He trains them all for the big day.”

The victory made Anthony Van Dyck and early 2-1 favorite for the June 29 Irish Derby.