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Stunner: 65-1 long shot Country House wins Kentucky Derby via DQ

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; Saturday marked the 145th year for one of the biggest events in horse racing, and thousands of fans flocked to race tracks all over the country to partake in festivities celebrating the Kentucky Derby.</p><p>The scene was no different at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where upwards of 5,000 were expected to be in attendance throughout the day. Aside from live-streaming the rainy and mud &#8212; riddled Kentucky Derby, the Downs also hosted their own races in both morning and evening &#8212; and to much fairer skies above.</p><p>With mint juleps in their hands, many attendees stopped at the Spa Sapphire stand to pick out a big hat for the occasion before posing for a quick picture at a photo booth that helped aid the Standardbred Retirement Foundation.</p><p>The Downs has been hosting the event for over a decade, according to racing marketing manager Jennifer Starr.</p><p>&#8220;Derby has always been a traditional, huge party here at the downs. It&#8217;s a really great atmosphere to watch the derby in,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Everybody just comes out and it&#8217;s like a camaraderie thing.&#8221;</p><p>Starr spent much of the afternoon assisting patrons who wised to participate in the annual Run for the Roses Hat Revue, which awarded cash prizes to the best hats in five categories.</p><p>&#8220;The run for the roses hat revue is something that has grown so much over the years, and we do cash prizes for it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So every year the hats keep getting bigger and more extravagant and more fun.&#8221;</p><p>Admitting that although it was heavy to hold up, Lori Ianni was eager to show off her whimsical hat that matched her navy floral dress. This was the first time Ianni participated in the hat revue.</p><p>&#8220;I started it right before Easter. So every day I was working on it,&#8221; she said of the pastel blue and pink floral arrangement that featured pins, pearls and more.</p><p>Ianni would later go hat-to-hat against last year&#8217;s reigning revue champion, Nancy Dopko.</p><p>A lover of all things derby, Dopko has been an avid fan of racing for about a decade. This year the Plymouth resident sported a matching hat and outfit that both featured large, yellow sunflowers, feathers, bumblebees and more.</p><p>The masterpiece took her about a week to put together, and Dopko took home the Judges&#8217; Choice Award on Saturday.</p><p>For those experiencing racing for the first time, Dopko suggested making a trip to the Belmont &#8212; or any high-stakes race &#8212; and experience it for themselves.</p><p>&#8220;You have to go to one of them one time,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;Only to hear the thunder of the horses. You get goosebumps from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. It&#8217;s unbelievable. It&#8217;s amazing.&#8221; </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Brittany Baron, right, takes a selfie with Gabby Cristiano, Stephanie Stelmack, and Sarah Scavo, all of Old Forge, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brittany Baron, right, takes a selfie with Gabby Cristiano, Stephanie Stelmack, and Sarah Scavo, all of Old Forge, at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Racing marketing manager Jennifer Starr coordinates the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Racing marketing manager Jennifer Starr coordinates the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nadine McMahon, of Wyoming, left, poses with her Charlie McCarthy hat next to Tracy Anescavage, of Scranton, during judging at the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_5-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Nadine McMahon, of Wyoming, left, poses with her Charlie McCarthy hat next to Tracy Anescavage, of Scranton, during judging at the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">AnneMarie Wright, of Danville, waits to enter the stage during judging of the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>AnneMarie Wright, of Danville, waits to enter the stage during judging of the Kentucky Derby hat competition at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Saturday.  </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Eventual Judges&#8217; Choice Award winner Nancy Dopko, of Plymouth, waits during the Kentucky Derby hat competition. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050519DerbyDay_3-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Eventual Judges&#8217; Choice Award winner Nancy Dopko, of Plymouth, waits during the Kentucky Derby hat competition. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Mohegan Sun Pocono hosts annual Derby festivities</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>How about that race?</strong></p><p>Read about the Kentucky Derby&#8217;s stunning outcome, <strong>1B.</strong></p></factboxMeta></div>