LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 151st Kentucky Derby unfolded on May 3, 2025, under a gray, rain-soaked sky at Churchill Downs, where Sovereignty, a 7-1 underdog, powered through the slop to claim victory in the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. With mud flying and 147,406 fans braving the drizzle in ponchos, the bay colt outran the heavily favored Journalism in a heart-pounding stretch duel, crossing the finish line in 2:02.31 to secure a $3.1 million purse from the $5 million total.
The race kicked off with a blistering pace set by early leaders like Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull, who bolted from the No. 1 gate, clocking a quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds. Neoequos, American Promise, and Owen Almighty kept the heat on, tearing through the first half-mile in 46.23. But the muddy track, churned into a mess by all-day showers, favored closers. Sovereignty, ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, bided his time, lurking mid-pack from the 18th post. Journalism, the 3-1 favorite with a flawless record in four prior races, hugged the outside, dodging trouble after a bumpy first turn.
As the field rounded the final bend, Journalism surged, overtaking Owen Almighty and looking poised to become the first favorite to win since Justify in 2018. But Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, had other plans. The two colts locked eyes in the stretch, running nose-to-nose, hooves pounding through the muck. With a final burst, Sovereignty pulled ahead by 1.5 lengths, leaving Journalism in second and late-charging Baeza, a 13-1 longshot, in third. Final Gambit and Owen Almighty rounded out the top five.
For Alvarado, a 38-year-old Venezuelan, it was a career-defining moment—his first Derby win in six tries. Mott, the 71-year-old South Dakotan trainer, notched his second Derby victory, his first untainted by controversy. His 2019 win with Country House came only after Maximum Security’s disqualification, a sore point he brushed off post-race. “This one got here the right way,” Mott said, grinning as he stood by the winner’s circle, where red roses draped Sovereignty’s neck.
The payout reflected the upset. A $2 bet on Sovereignty to win returned $17.96, with place and show bets yielding $7.50 and $5.58. Journalism paid $4.94 to place and $3.70 to show, while Baeza’s show bet returned $8.38. Exotic bets cashed in big: a $2 exacta (Sovereignty-Journalism) paid $48.32, a $1 trifecta (Sovereignty-Journalism-Baeza) brought $231.12, and a $1 superfecta with Final Gambit in fourth delivered $1,682.27.
Godolphin, the global racing empire owned by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, celebrated a banner weekend. Their filly Good Cheer won the Kentucky Oaks the day before, and another horse, Ruling Court, took Britain’s 2,000 Guineas earlier on Saturday. Sovereignty’s win marked Godolphin’s first Derby triumph, completing a career Triple Crown for the sheikh, whose horses had previously won the Preakness and Belmont.
The race wasn’t without its subplots. Baffert, back after a three-year suspension tied to a 2021 drug scandal with Medina Spirit, saw Citizen Bull fade to 15th. The six-time Derby winner, still tied with Ben Jones for the most victories, couldn’t reclaim the record. Meanwhile, Baeza’s third-place finish was a coup for jockey Flavien Prat, who’d switched mounts just days before.
Sovereignty, sired by Into Mischief and out of Crowned by Bernardini, now boasts a 3-2-0 record in six starts. His path to Louisville included a win in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 and a second-place finish in the Florida Derby on March 29. Whether he’ll chase the Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes on May 17 remains unclear—Godolphin and Mott stayed mum, saying they’d watch how the colt recovers.
The sloppy track, only the 10th in Derby history, didn’t deter bettors. The win pool hit $14.504 million, with Journalism drawing 17% of bets and Sovereignty tying Luxor Café at 9-1 for third choice. Despite the soggy conditions, fans packed the stands, sipping mint juleps and cheering as the Garland of Roses was paraded through the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza before the race.
Sovereignty’s victory sets the stage for a potential Triple Crown bid, a feat achieved just 13 times, most recently by Justify. For now, the colt stands tall as the 2025 Derby champion, his name etched in the history of a race that’s captivated the world since 1875.
Finish order: 1. Sovereignty, 2. Journalism, 3. Baeza, 4. Final Gambit, 5. Owen Almighty, 6. Burnham Square, 7. Sandman, 8. East Avenue, 9. Chunk of Gold, 10. Tiztastic, 11. Coal Battle, 12. Luxor Café, 13. Neoequos, 14. Publisher, 15. Citizen Bull, 16. American Promise, 17. Render Judgement, 18. Flying Mohawk, 19. Admire Daytona.