Victory for Sovereignty at the Rainy 151st Kentucky Derby
Sovereignty emerged victorious at the soggy 151st Kentucky Derby, marking a triumph for its connections over the anticipated champion, Journalism. Guided by renowned trainer Bill Mott, Sovereignty completed the wet journey in 2:02.31, closing at 7-1 odds. Meanwhile, favorite Journalism secured second place, with last-minute entrant Baeza coming in third.
The race began briskly, with Sovereignty and Journalism starting amid the pack. Initially, Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull, alongside long shots Neoequos and Owen Almighty, took the lead. However, the real excitement unfolded in the race’s latter half when Sovereignty and Journalism surged from the outside, delivering an electrifying two-horse duel in the final stretch.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby boasted a $5 million purse, matching the previous year, distributed among the top five finishers, awarding $3.1 million to Sovereignty.
For betting enthusiasts, a $2 wager on Sovereignty fetched $17.96. Moreover, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets paid out $48.32, $231.12, and $1,682.27 for a $1 bet, respectively.
This victory marked a significant first for both Godolphin, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and jockey Junior Alvarado. Mott celebrated his second Derby win, distinctively remembering this one as the first time his horse was the true on-track victor.
Mott previously clinched the 2019 Derby title under contentious circumstances after Maximum Security’s disqualification. “This win feels incredible,” Mott shared with the Los Angeles Times. “He made great strides quickly. This was the right way. He’s a phenomenal horse supported by a remarkable organization.”
All 19 horses battled through muddy conditions following a day-long downpour at Churchill Downs. Prior to the race, two contenders—Baffe-trained Rodriguez and the long shot Grande—were scratched due to foot injuries, prompting Baeza’s entry as Rodriguez’s substitute, quickly achieving 14-1 odds.
Entering as Saturday’s 3-1 favorite, Journalism’s odds adjusted to 7-2 at the start.
The event marked Bob Baffert’s comeback after a three-year Churchill Downs ban, stemming from a 2021 controversy with Medina Spirit’s disqualification due to a banned substance. Citizen Bull faced the race at 13-1 odds despite Rodriguez’s absence.
2025 Kentucky Derby Official Results
- Sovereignty
- Journalism
- Baeza
- Final Gambit
- Owen Almighty
- Burnham Square
- Sandman
- East Avenue
- Chunk of Gold
- Tiztastic
- Coal Battle
- Luxor Cafe
- Neoequos
- Publisher
- Citizen Bull
- American Promise
- Render Judgement
- Flying Mohawk
- Admire Daytona.