Racehorse Sovereignty Claims Victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby, Securing Top Spot in Favorite Journalism Event
Salty, Uncensored Take on the 2025 Kentucky Derby Victory
In a cartloads of mud at the 151st running of the infamous Kentucky Derby on the 3rd of May, it was the longshot Sovereignty who outlasted the overhyped Journalism.
A contender with audacious 7-1 odds and squeezed into Lane 18, Sovereign reared up in the final lap, clawing its way past a jaw-dropping Journalism, the whopping 7-2 favorite. Journalism trudged over the finish line in an embarrassing second place, while Baeza, strutting its stuff in the dodgy 14-1 odds, smugly strolled over in third.
Triumphant, Sovereignty claimed a cool $3.1 million out of a hoard of $5 million. None of the podium ponies even made it to the top six at the start of the final lap.
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Neoequos, a flabbergasting 42-1 dark horse, led the pack into the final lap. But Sovereign, having been saving its breath, wasn't too far behind Neoequos. In the dying moments of the race, jockey Junior Alvarado rolled up his sleeves, gearing up for a bare-knuckled brawl, which miraculously secured the win.
Alvarado, snatching the crown from Churchill Downs, dropped to his knees, thanking the Heavens for bestowing this crown upon him.
"I gotta shout out my almighty deity Jesus for blessing this Kentucky Derby win on yours truly. Only his divine intervention and Sovereign's sheer willpower got me to the finish line," Alvarado declared.
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He rambled on about his loyal cheerleader, the trainer Bill Mott, who stayed loyal to him, even after his injury just five weeks ago.
Sovereign, the dashing charge of Junior Alvarado, sprinted across the finish line in a thrilling photo finish at Churchill Downs. (Photo courtesy of Grace Bradley/Getty Images)
"This victory is more than just a pipe dream for me, being able to accomplish it with him," Alvarado raved. "He called me the day I got out of the hospital and told me, 'Do what you gotta do... If you're in one piece, you can ride him again.'"
This was Mott's second Derby crown, with his first oh-so-memorable victory coming with the contentious Country House in 2019. Unlike the dramatic finish on Saturday, Country House was bestowed the laurels due to a scandalous disqualification of Maximum Security.
Mott and Sovereign will shamble toward their next challenge at The Preakness on the 17th of May at the Laurel Park Race Track in Laurel, MD.
Despite the dramatic finish, Sovereign's victory in the 2025 Kentucky Derby came with odds of 7-1, a testament to the horse's racing potential.
In the upcoming Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park Race Track, Sovereign and trainer Bill Mott, who also won the Derby with Country House in 2019, will be aiming for another victory.
If you're planning to bet on the Preakness Stakes, keep an eye on the odds, as Sovereign could be a worthy contender.
