Sovereignty delivered his usual closing kick in the slop, outdueled favorite Journalism in the stretch, and won the $5 million 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
On a rainy day at the Downs with more than 145,000 racing fans at the iconic track, the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby set up perfectly for the closers in the field of 19 3-year-olds.
And Sovereignty ($17.96 for a $2 win bet) proved to be the best of them all as he delivered a second Derby victory for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and first for owners Godolphin Racing and jockey Junior Alvarado. The winning margin was 1 ½ lengths.
In this one, though, Mott could soak in the victory right after his bay colt crossed the finish line first. Country House won the 2019 Derby but only after first-place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified for interference, a decision that took an agonizing 22 minutes [23 according to Mott].
“This one got there the right way,’’ said a smiling Mott. “I mean, he’s done well. He’s a great horse from a great organization. It’ll probably take a while for it to sink in.”
Godolphin, the worldwide racing operation run by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was 0-for-12 in its quest to win the Kentucky Derby. Alvarado, the regular rider aboard Sovereignty who missed the Florida Derby (G1) with an injury, was 0-for-5 in the Run for the Roses.
“I saw [Sovereignty] gearing up when he left the half-mile pole,’’ said Mott, who added he lost sight of him between the half-mile and three-eighths pole. “He made up a lot of ground in a hurry.”
The last Derby winner over a sloppy track? You guessed it – Country House, which Flavien Prat rode.
Sovereignity’s winning time was 2:02.31.
The 151st Derby unfolded as expected. When the gates sprang open, frontrunners Citizen Bull, trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert – back in the race after a three-year suspension -- and Neoequos shot to the lead. Longshots American Promise, Owen Almighty, and East Avenue were in close pursuit, while Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, was in the next wave of horses.
On the far turn, both Sovereignty and Journalism moved into contention on the outside, and the two -- muddied but game–– emerged from the pack and began pulling away. They battled saddlecloth to saddlecloth well off the rail before Sovereignty edged away a clear winner.
“It is a race we always wanted to try and win,’’ said Michael Banahan, racing manager for Godolphin. “It was the two best horses. East versus West, not one of them giving an inch.” On Saturday, Godolphin-owned Good Cheer won the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“I had a beautiful trip,’’ said Rispoli, noting he saved ground into the first turn and was set to challenge the leaders. “Past the half-mile pole, he started running for me. I was smoothly getting him into a rhythm. I wanted to turn for home with just a couple of horses ahead of me. That’s what happened, but Sovereignty was the best today.”
Baeza, who got into the race two days ago when Rodriguez was scratched, closed willingly and finished third, with Final Gambit fourth.
“All things considered, the fact that he shipped for the time and ran on a wet track for the first time, we think he ran a fine, fine race,’’ said Baeza’s trainer John Shirreffs.
Owen Almighty was fifth, followed by Burnham Square, Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Luxor Café, Neoeqous, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk, and Admire Daytona.
“It means the world to me,’’ said Alvarado, who teamed with Mott with 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. “I thought I had a great chance. With Mr. Mott, I was confident the whole way. We’ve been a team for a while. It’s more than a dream come true.”
The two Japanese runners, Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona, finished 12th and 19th, respectively.
Sovereignty, a son of top sire Into Mischief, won the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old, and many believed he was a top Kentucky Derby contender. He made his 3-year-old debut by winning the Fountain of Youth (G2) by a neck with a closing rush to overtake River Thames. In the Florida Derby on March 29, with Luis Saez replacing the injured Alvarado, Sovereignty ran second by 1 ¾ lengths to Tappan Street.
For now, Mott hedged on whether Sovereignty will run next in the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Sovereignty is the fifth Derby winner from post 16, and the first since Animal Kingdom in 2011. He improved his resume to 6-3-2-0 and catapulted his earnings to $3,672,800 [earning $3.1 million for the Derby win].
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
