On a rain-drenched Saturday at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty surged through the slop to capture the 151st Kentucky Derby, delivering a masterclass performance in the mud and holding off pre-race favorite Journalism down the stretch to win by 1 ½ lengths.
The 3-year-old colt, entered at 7-1 odds, clocked in at 2:02.31 under jockey Junior Alvarado, who earned his first career Derby win. For trainer Bill Mott, it was his second — but the first in which one of his horses actually crossed the wire first. Mott’s 2019 winner, Country House, was elevated to victory following the disqualification of Maximum Security in similarly sloppy conditions.
Sovereignty’s win not only sealed a memorable day for his connections, but also completed a career Triple Crown for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and founder of the Godolphin racing empire. Already the winner of the Preakness with Bernardini (2006) and the Belmont with Essential Quality (2021), Sheikh Mohammed can now add a Kentucky Derby trophy to his storied résumé. Godolphin’s dominance continued from the day before, when its filly Good Cheer captured the Kentucky Oaks.
“It means the world to me,” Alvarado said, visibly emotional after the race. “My family’s here. I thought I had a great chance. It’s more than even a dream come true.”
Despite a soggy Churchill Downs and a field of 19, Sovereignty was unbothered by the elements. As Citizen Bull, from the rail, set an early pace just as trainer Bob Baffert predicted, the race soon opened up. Baffert, back at the Derby after a three-year suspension stemming from Medina Spirit’s 2021 disqualification, watched his horse fade hard to 15th.
The real drama emerged in the final turn, as Sovereignty and Journalism separated themselves from the rest. Journalism, the 3-1 favorite, encountered traffic on the first turn but recovered under Umberto Rispoli, swinging wide and launching a strong bid. Still, it wasn’t enough to reel in Sovereignty, who powered home in commanding fashion.
Baeza, a late entrant who made the field only after a Thursday scratch, stormed in for third, followed by Final Gambit and Owen Almighty. Sovereignty’s victory netted $3.1 million from the Derby’s $5 million purse and paid out $17.96 to win, $7.50 to place, and $5.58 to show on a $2 bet.
Here are the final results from the 151st Kentucky Derby:
- Sovereignty
- Journalism – 1 ½ lengths behind
- Baeza – 1 ¾
- Final Gambit – 4 ¼
- Owen Almighty – 9
- Burnham Square – 10 ½
- Sandman – 12 ½
- East Avenue – 13 ¼
- Chunk of Gold – 15 ¾
- Tiztastic – 16 ½
- Coal Battle – 17
- Luxor Cafe – 18 ¾
- Neoequos – 27
- Publisher – 32 ¼
- Citizen Bull – 33 ½
- American Promise – 38 ½
- Render Judgement – 39 ¾
- Flying Mohawk – 42 ¼
- Admire Daytona – 54 ¾
The racing world now turns to Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. Sovereignty’s team has not yet confirmed his entry, leaving fans eager to see whether the colt will pursue the next leg of the Triple Crown. The last to do so successfully? Justify in 2018.
Will Sovereignty chase history? For now, he reigns supreme in Louisville.
