In Louisville, Kentucky, trainer Bill Mott celebrated a definitive Kentucky Derby win with his horse, Sovereignty. This marked Mott’s second victory at the Derby, and this time it came without controversy or delay. Sovereignty triumphed over Journalism, the favored contender, during a thrilling race on a muddy track, ending a winless streak for owner Godolphin. This victory carries no asterisks, unlike Mott’s first win in 2019 when Country House claimed victory only after Maximum Security was disqualified.
Saturday’s race results weren’t immediately official due to a review of a photo finish for second and some initial congestion at the start, but Mott remained confident in Sovereignty’s performance. “This one got there the right way,” Mott declared, praising the colt’s background and the exceptional team behind him. Godolphin represents the racing interests of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, who had a notable weekend with his filly, Good Cheer, winning the Kentucky Oaks, and another horse, Ruling Court, taking the title at the 2,000 Guineas in Britain.
Sovereignty, bred by Sheikh Mohammed and racing at odds of 7-1, completed the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.31, rewarding its backers with $17.96 for a win. Notably, Sovereignty became the 20th Derby winner with a name starting with “S,” securing $3.1 million from the race’s $5 million purse. Mott expressed that the achievement might take some time to fully realize.
Journalism, though facing some challenges during the race, mounted a strong fight. With jockey Umberto Rispoli navigating through the crowded 19-horse field, Journalism positioned himself alongside Sovereignty. However, it was Sovereignty, under jockey Junior Alvarado, who ultimately broke away to win. Alvarado expressed how the horse communicated its readiness to him on the track, leading to their decisive push.
Michael McCarthy, who trains Journalism, acknowledged the strength of the competition, noting the superiority of the victor’s performance. For Alvarado, this Derby win marked a significant milestone, especially as he had been unable to ride Sovereignty in the prior Florida Derby due to an injury. Celebrating his first win in six attempts, the 38-year-old Venezuelan jockey described the victory as surpassing his dreams.
Baeza, a late entrant in the Derby, charged up to finish third, just a neck behind Journalism, followed by Final Gambit and Owen Almighty. The race saw Citizen Bull, trained by Bob Baffert, initially setting the pace. Baffert returned to the Derby stage after a suspension following his horse Medina Spirit’s disqualification in 2021.
Renowned for his four Derby wins, the veteran trainer D. Wayne Lukas watched his horse, American Promise, finish in 15th place. The event was characterized by persistent rain, which turned the Churchill Downs track into a slushy course, compelling audiences to don plastic ponchos over their traditional Derby attire.
The rest of the field concluded with Burnham Square in sixth, followed by Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Neoequos, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk, and finally Admire Daytona, underlining the intensely competitive nature of this 151st Kentucky Derby.