LOUISVILLE — A few minutes after jockey Joel Rosario guided Orb to a wet and muddy Kentucky Derby win Saturday, he was shuffled to the paddock for a brief interview. But Churchill Downs communications director Darren Rogers looked at a clock and looked at Rosario and knew that jockeys are rarely afforded time to celebrate.

He knew race No. 12 would start soon, and that Rosario was scheduled to be aboard Wild Target in an oft-forgotten allowance race. It was sort of like LeBron James having to play a pickup game an hour after winning an NBA title.

"He said to take him off No. 12," a man said amid the swarm of television cameras. "He said to take him off."

Finally, then, one of the hottest jockeys in the world was given a chance to relax, to smile, to bask in a career-defining win.

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Rosario, a 28-year-old with a soft voice and a gentle smile, has watched the Derby since he was 18, when jockey Jose Santos took Funny Cide to a win. Since then, Rosario has dreamed of his turn. This was his fourth Derby, and he had never finished higher than fourth.

"Right now I just feel like, 'Did I win the Kentucky Derby?'" Rosario said. "It's like a dream."

But those close to Rosario, like Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and agent Ron Anderson, were not surprised.

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They'd seen how well Rosario adapted to East Coast racing after moving from California last year. They'd seen him win the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 30. They'd seen him storm to 37 wins at Keeneland this year, a spring-meet record.

Rosario, who was trained as a teenager on the Dominican Republic's lone racetrack, got the chance to ride Orb after jockey John Velazquez opted for Wood Memorial winner Verrazano in the Derby. And McGaughey, for one, didn't mind a bit.

On Tuesday, after Rosario finished second in a pair of races at Churchill Downs, he told McGaughey that he needed to go home and figure out what he was doing wrong. That gave McGaughey an idea of his jockey's mind-set for the Derby.

"Whenever you can get with somebody who's on a roll like he is," McGaughey said, "you've got to feel pretty good."


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During the postrace news conference, Rosario said he was most happy that he won the Derby for McCaughey. And as others answered questions, Rosario continually looked over at Anderson, his agent, who was sitting a few feet away. He'd smile, give a thumbs-up and shake his head in an I-can't-believe-this way.

Anderson said Rosario is remarkably selfless for a jockey who has been so successful in such a short time. He thought back to the Dubai World Cup, which Rosario won aboard Animal Kingdom.

"He pulls up, and one of the first things he said was he had to thank everyone in the barn," Anderson said. "… He's got such a nice way. He's very appreciative, and he doesn't think it's all about him."

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After leading Orb into the winner's circle, Rosario took pictures, did his national television interview and walked back toward the paddock to talk a bit more.

Then he passed University of Louisville basketball players Peyton Siva, Gorgui Dieng and Mike Marra. He shook their hands and smiled.

"I can't believe I won the Derby," Rosario told the players. "I'm in shock."

And then he was allowed to enjoy it, because race No. 12 could wait for another day.

Adam Himmelsbach also writes for The Courier-Journal in Louisville.