Triumphant Victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby: Underdog Sovereignty Outperforms Favored Journalism in Muddy Conditions
KENTUCKY DERBY 2025Bill Mott scores a second win in the Kentucky Derby, ending a 26-year drought for Godolphin Racing.
Sloppy conditions at Churchill Downs couldn't slow down 3-year-old horse Sovereignty, who outpaced the competition in a thrilling race to the finish line on May 3, 2025. It was the colt's second win in the iconic horse race, and Bill Mott's second victory as well, after an 0 for 13 skid by the racing stable.
The victory was particularly sweet for Mott, who won his first Derby in 2019 but was marred by controversy. That year's win was given to Country House due to Maximum Security crossing the finish line first before being disqualified during a 22-minute delay. This time, there was no asterisk – Sovereignty earned the victory fair and square.
Godolphin Racing, owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, celebrated a successful weekend. Their filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks on the previous day, while Ruling Court, a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, won the 2,000 Guineas in Britain earlier on Derby day.
Sovereignty, bred by the sheikh, completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.31 and paid $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds. The victory was worth $3.1 million from the $5 million purse. The colt became the record 20th horse with a name starting with "S" to win the famed race.
Journalism, the 3-1 favorite, had a Rocky ride in the 19-horse field but rallied to stay in contention. Umberto Rispoli, the jockey, described the colt's determination: "He was saying to me, 'Listen, I'm ready.' So from there I started picking up." Ultimately, Sovereignty surged ahead in the closing stages, securing a narrow but decisive victory.
Junior Alvarado, the jockey for Sovereignty, secured his first Derby win in six attempts. The 38-year-old Venezuelan was thrilled, commenting that it was "more than a dream come true." Fast-closing Baeza and Final Gambit rounded out the top three.
The Kentucky Derby attracted a crowd of 147,406 fans, battling the rain and wearing clear plastic ponchos to protect their hats and clothes. Citizen Bull, the lone entry for six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, set the pace, while D. Wayne Lukas, the 89-year-old four-time Derby winner, saw his colt, American Promise, finish right behind Baffert in 15th. Rain made for a soggy day at Churchill Downs, with the dirt strip listed as sloppy.
For Bill Mott, this victory was an emotional moment, one he will never forget. "To be sitting here… it's like going to outer space," he said. It was a sentiment shared by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who saw his dream of a Kentucky Derby win become a reality at long last.
Enrichment Data:- Sovereignty won the 156th Kentucky Derby, not the 151st as mentioned in the original text.- The victory marked Bill Mott's second win after also taking the 2019 race (Country House, disqualified win).- Godolphin Racing, owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, secured its first Kentucky Derby win after 26 years of attempts.- Sovereignty was the 20th horse with a name starting with "S" to win the Kentucky Derby.
1. Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, won the Kentucky Derby 156 in 2025, securing a fair and square victory as opposed to the 2019 win marred by controversy.2. Hailing from the Godolphin Racing stable, owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sovereigity ended a 26-year drought for the team in the iconic horse race.3. With sloppy conditions at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty, a 3-year-old horse, outpaced the competition, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.31 and paying $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds.4. These victories marked Bill Mott's second win in the Kentucky Derby and the first for Godolphin Racing in the race.5. Junior Alvarado, the jockey for Sovereignty, secured his first Derby win in six attempts, while the 3-1 favorite, Journalism, rallied to finish in the top four.6. Amidst rainy conditions, a crowd of 147,406 fans gathered at Churchill Downs, witnessing Sovereignty secure a decisive victory in the 156th running of the world-renowned horse-racing event.
