LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The roses were red, the track was a mess, and Sovereignty was the king of the slop at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2025. In a heart-pounding finish to the 151st Kentucky Derby, the 7-1 bay colt surged past favorite Journalism to claim the first leg of the Triple Crown, leaving 147,406 rain-soaked fans roaring under their ponchos. It was a race that turned mud into magic, with a $3.1 million payday for the winner’s team and a story that’ll be told in every bar from Louisville to Lexington.
The day started grim, with rain hammering the one-mile oval, turning the dirt into a pudding-like quagmire. By post time, the track was officially sloppy—only the tenth time in Derby history it’s been that way. Early speedsters like Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull, fresh off the trainer’s three-year Churchill ban, set a blistering pace, clocking the first quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds. Neoequos and Owen Almighty hung tight, while Sovereignty and Journalism, the 3-1 favorite, bided their time mid-pack, their jockeys playing a patient game.
Then came the final turn. Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, made a bold swing to the outside, dodging trouble from a bumpy first turn. The colt, undefeated in four prior starts, looked poised to become the first favorite to win since Justify in 2018. But Sovereignty, with Junior Alvarado in the irons, was glued to his flank. As the two hit the stretch, it was a two-horse war, mud flying, hooves pounding, and the crowd on its feet. Sovereignty found another gear, pulling ahead by 1.5 lengths to cross the line in 2:02.31. Baeza, a late-entry at 13-1, charged for third, while 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. Trainer Bill Mott, a 71-year-old South Dakotan, notched his second, though this one felt sweeter than his 2019 victory with Country House, which came via disqualification. The $5 million purse, unchanged from 2024, was split among the top five, with Sovereignty’s owners, Godolphin, pocketing the lion’s share. Bettors who backed the winner saw $17.96 on a $2 win ticket, while a $1 exacta paid $48.32, a trifecta $231.12, and a superfecta a hefty $1,682.27.
Godolphin, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had a weekend for the ages. Their filly Good Cheer won the Kentucky Oaks on May 2, and their colt Ruling Court took Britain’s 2,000 Guineas earlier Saturday. Sovereignty’s victory capped a global trifecta, completing a career Triple Crown for the Dubai-based operation. The colt, sired by Into Mischief, now stands 3-2-0 in six starts, with his sights set on the Preakness Stakes on May 17—though Mott and Godolphin stayed cagey about committing.
Baffert, back after his 2021 Medina Spirit drug scandal, couldn’t work his usual magic. Citizen Bull faded to 15th, a footnote in a race that belonged to the closers. Journalism’s connections, meanwhile, licked their wounds, knowing their star colt had run his heart out but met a better horse on the day.
The 2025 Derby was no fairy tale—it was raw, wet, and real, a reminder that even in the slop, the fastest horse can still steal the show. Sovereignty’s name is now etched in Churchill’s history, and the road to the Triple Crown is wide open.
Facts: Sovereignty won the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs, finishing in 2:02.31. Journalism placed second, Baeza third, Final Gambit fourth, Owen Almighty fifth. The $5 million purse awarded $3.1 million to the winner. Betting payouts included $17.96 (win), $7.50 (place), $5.58 (show) for Sovereignty; $4.94 (place), $3.70 (show) for Journalism; $8.38 (show) for Baeza. The track was sloppy due to rain. Attendance was 147,406. Junior Alvarado was the jockey, Bill Mott the trainer, Godolphin the owner. The Preakness Stakes is scheduled for May 17, 2025.