The track was sloppy. Very muddy. I watched the race with some friends who were not horse people and they were concerned about the safety of the horses running on such a wet track. Did track conditions influence the outcome of the race? Journalism, the favorite, had never won on a wet track before, although he gave it a good try, finishing second. But it was Sovereignty who emerged the winner, although so covered in mud he was nearly unrecognizable.

The Race Unfolds

Breaking from post position 16, Sovereignty faced immediate challenges. A few strides out of the gate, he clipped heels with Chunk of Gold, which left jockey Junior Alvarado, wondering if the horse had pulled a shoe. Maintaining his composure, guiding Sovereignty to the rail for a ground-saving ride and settling into 17th place in the field of nineteen — nine lengths off the pace — as they navigated the first turn.

Heading into the second turn Sovereignty began picking off the front runners, moving into fourth by the top of the lane, just behind Journalism in third, as they pursued Neoequos and Oven Almighty who were battling for the lead.

Journalism took command in the early stretch, but with a furlong remaining, Sovereignty’s final push was in front and gradually inched clear on his way to Derby glory. He hit the wire in 2:02.31 over a sloppy track, well off Secretariat’s track record set in 1973 of 1:59.40, but quick for the sloppy conditions.

Sovereignty surged past favorite Journalism to win the 151st Kentucky Derby by 1½ lengths, delivering a first Derby victory for Godolphin and a second for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Jockey Junior Alvarado, returning from a serious injury just weeks prior, executed a masterful ride along the rail to secure his first Derby win. Entering the homestretch, Sovereignty engaged in a head-to-head battle with the favored Journalism. Stride for stride, the two colts dueled, but in the final furlong, Sovereignty ran wide and surged ahead, crossing the finish line 1½ lengths clear of Journalism, completing the 1¼-mile race in 2:02.31.

Sovereignty is the first winner to break from post 16 since Animal Kingdom in 2011.

A Remarkable Comeback

Sovereignty’s triumph was made even more poignant by Alvarado’s inspiring comeback. On March 23, during a race at Gulfstream Park, Alvarado’s mount, Term, suffered a fatal heart attack, resulting in a fall that left the jockey with a fractured shoulder. After weeks of rigorous rehabilitation, Alvarado returned to the saddle, determined to reclaim his place among the sport’s elite.

He watched from the sidelines as Sovereignty finished second in the Santa Anita Derby but trainer Bill Mott, reinstated him as Sovereignty’s rider for the Derby. Their partnership culminated in a masterful performance that showcased not only the colt’s tenacity but also Alvarado’s dedication. [Note: readers may remember Mott and Alverado as the trainer/rider for the popular Cody’s Wish].

A Historic Win

The victory marked several significant milestones:

• First Derby Win for Godolphin: Godolphin is the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. After years of pursuit, the global racing powerhouse achieved its inaugural Kentucky Derby triumph. In fact, a Godolphin filly, Good Cheer, also won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, making this a great weekend of racing for them.
• Second Derby Victory for Bill Mott: Mott added another Derby win to his illustrious career, following his 2019 victory with Country House — a victory that was tarnished because the horse that crossed the finish line first, Maximum Security, was disqualified.
• First Derby Win for Junior Alvarado: In his ninth attempt, Alvarado secured his first Kentucky Derby victory.
• Third Derby winner for Into Mischief: The stallion is the first sire since Bull Lea in 1957 to sire three Kentucky Derby winners — Authentic, Mandaloun, and now Sovereignty. Into Mischief has been the leading general sire for the past six years (sure to become a seventh) and commands a stud fee of $250,000.

As the racing world turns its attention to the upcoming Preakness Stakes, all eyes will be on Sovereignty to see if he can continue his quest for the Triple Crown. Currently, that decision is still under review.

The director of Bloodstock and co-Owner of Sovereignty, Michael Banahan, said: “It’s a long season. He’s had three hard races since February. That takes a lot out of those horses. We saw him train all week long. He puts a lot into his gallops as well. It’s a quick turnaround, as we all know, and that’s what makes the Triple Crown so special. We’ll just do what’s the right thing for him. He’ll tell us yay or nay- and we’ll do what he tells us to do.”

Banahan and Mott are expected to announce their decision by the end of the week.