Contest for victory in Kentucky Derby complicated by sovereignty affecting muddy racetrack
In the heart of Kentucky, the 151st running of the well-renowned Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs, Louisville, with a surprise victor taking the first leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. In an exhilarating showdown, none other than Sovereignty emerged as the champion in a nail-biting finish, beating the heavy favorite, Journalism, down the final stretch.
Amidst the soggy and slippery conditions, Sovereignty thrived, completing the 1-1/4-mile race in an impressive time of two minutes and 2.31 seconds. Journalism finished a mere length behind, while Baeza trailed in third place.
This triumphant moment marked the return of famed trainer Bob Baffert to Churchill Downs after a three-year ban, following the drugs test failure of his horse, Medina Spirit, in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Baffert’s horse, Citizen Bull, took the early lead from the pole position, maintaining its place throughout most of the race while a dense pack chased closely behind.
Sovereignty and Journalism made their charge at the same time, expertly maneuvering around the outside during the final turn, engaging in a neck-to-neck battle all the way until the last 16th of a mile, before Sovereignty stormed ahead in the closing seconds. Trainer Bill Mott praised the horse, stating, "I lost him a little bit, but he made up a lot of ground in a hurry."
Mott's history with the Kentucky Derby goes back to his 2019 victory when Country House won the race, with Maximum Security being disqualified for the first time in race history for crossing the finish line first. Mott trained Sovereignty this time around, and the victory marks Mott's second Kentucky Derby triumph.
Jockey Junior Alvarado clinched the win as he navigated expertly through the pack from the challenging 18th post position, relying on his seasoned skills and unwavering confidence in the horse he fondly called “Mr. Mud.” Alvarado made a remarkable comeback after a five-week layoff due to a reported shoulder fracture.
It's interesting to note that Baeza managed to sneak into third place after another of Baffert's horses, Rodriguez, scratched out on Thursday. Rodriguez's absence allowed Baeza to take advantage of the opportunity, with jockey Hector Berrios making a gutsy last-minute move.
Looking back, the 2023 Kentucky Derby was a significant event, with a 15-1 longshot, Mage, winning the race. The 2025 Kentucky Derby saw Sovereignty defeat Journalism and Baeza under sloppy conditions, marking Sovereignty's remarkable victory.
Sovereignty's victory in the Kentucky Derby, a 151st running of horse-racing's Triple Crown, occurred under slippery conditions, with Sovereignty emerging as the champion against Journalism and other contenders. Notably, this win marked Bob Baffert's return to Churchill Downs after a three-year ban, with his horse Citizen Bull taking the early lead before Sovereignty's impressive finish. Junior Alvarado clinched the win for Sovereignty from the challenging 18th post position, relying on his gutsy skills and unwavering confidence. This victory marked Bill Mott's second Kentucky Derby triumph, following his 2019 win with Country House.
