Sovereignty Triumphs Over Journalism in a Thrilling 151st Kentucky Derby
In a rain-soaked showdown at the 151st Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty claimed victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown, finishing with an impressive time of 2:02.31. The Bill Mott-trained colt, closing at 7-1 odds, outpaced the favored Journalism and late addition Baeza, who rounded out the top finishers.
The race began with a swift pace as Sovereignty and Journalism initially trailed behind early leaders Citizen Bull, Neoequos, and Owen Almighty. However, the two surged ahead in the final stretch, turning the competition into a dramatic duel.
This year’s Derby boasted a 5millionpurse,matchinglastyear’sprize,withSovereigntyearning5millionpurse,matchinglastyear’sprize,withSovereigntyearning3.1 million for the win. Bettors who backed the underdog reaped significant rewards—a 2winbetonSovereigntyreturned2winbetonSovereigntyreturned17.96, while exacta, trifecta, and superfecta payouts reached 48.32,48.32,231.12, and $1,682.27, respectively.
The victory marked a historic moment for owner Godolphin (led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum) and jockey Junior Alvarado, both securing their first Derby wins. For trainer Bill Mott, it was his second Derby triumph, though this one carried extra significance. His previous win in 2019 came via disqualification when Country House was declared the winner after Maximum Security’s controversial interference ruling. This time, Sovereignty’s clean, decisive victory made the celebration even sweeter.
“He made a powerful late charge,” Mott told the Los Angeles Times. “This horse earned it the right way—he’s exceptional, and Godolphin’s team prepared him perfectly.”
Heavy rain created muddy track conditions, impacting all 19 contenders. Two horses—Rodriguez and Grande—were scratched before the race due to foot injuries, with Baeza taking Rodriguez’s spot and quickly rising to 14-1 odds. Journalism entered as the 3-1 favorite but settled for second place.
The event also marked the return of trainer Bob Baffert, who had been suspended for three years following Medina Spirit’s 2021 disqualification over a banned substance. Though his horse Rodriguez withdrew, Baffert’s other entry, Citizen Bull, raced at 13-1 odds but fell short of the win.
2025 Kentucky Derby full results
1. Sovereignty
2. Journalism
3. Baeza
4. Final Gambit
5. Owen Almighty
6. Burnham Square
7. Sandman
8. East Avenue
9. Chunk of Gold
10. Tiztastic
11. Coal Battle
12. Luxor Cafe
13. Neoequos
14. Publisher
15. Citizen Bull
16. American Promise
17. Render Judgement
18. Flying Mohawk
19. Admire Daytona
Fun fact: All 19 of those horses are descended from Secretariat.
