Sovereignty Claims Victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby

Sovereignty raced to a thrilling victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The event, known as the “Run for the Roses,” lived up to its legendary reputation, offering all the excitement and tradition that fans have come to expect from America’s longest continuously held major sporting event.

The day began with a series of preliminary races, setting the stage for the Derby itself. In a star-studded moment, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles — an 11-time medalist — gave the iconic “riders up” call, signaling the jockeys to mount their horses.

As the riders prepared, the bugler sounded the call to post, and the horses made their way to the starting gates, with the University of Louisville marching band and choir filling the air with “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Despite a rainy start to the day, the atmosphere was electric. Under cool, overcast skies, 147,406 spectators eagerly watched as 19 horses faced off on a muddy track.

The race kicked off with Citizen Bull and Neoequos leading the charge, setting a fast pace early on. Meanwhile, Sovereignty, along with other strong contenders, was stuck behind traffic in the back of the pack.

The leaders quickly formed a four-wide pack, joined by American Promise and East Avenue, as they thundered down the backstretch. But as the horses reached the final turn, it was clear that Sovereignty and Journalism were beginning to pull ahead.

The two horses battled it out down the stretch, with Sovereignty edging ahead in the final sixteenth of a mile to secure the win by a length and a half. Journalism finished second, while Baeza surged to third, just a neck behind, after tracking the leaders for much of the race.

Sovereignty, a three-year-old colt trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado, was a 9-1 favorite heading into the race. For Alvarado, this win was especially meaningful, marking his first-ever Kentucky Derby victory.

In an emotional moment, Alvarado shared his joy with NBC viewers: “It was him, Sovereignty, who got me all the way to the wire. It means the world to me and my family here. I was so confident all week… It’s more than even a dream come true to have it done with Mott.”

Trainer Bill Mott, who secured his second Derby win, expressed his gratitude for the win and the atmosphere at Churchill Downs: “This one got there the right way. He’s done well. He’s a great horse. He’s come from a great organization.”

Bob Baffert, a six-time Kentucky Derby winner, made his return to Churchill Downs this year after a three-year absence. The Hall of Fame trainer had been banned from racing at the Derby following the controversial failed drug test of his horse, Medina Spirit, in 2021.

However, Baffert’s return didn’t bring the hoped-for success. His two horses in this year’s Derby, Citizen Bull and Rodriguez, failed to make a mark. Citizen Bull finished in 15th, while Rodriguez had to withdraw earlier in the week due to a bruised foot.

With the Kentucky Derby now behind us, all eyes turn to the next leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown: The Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland, set to take place in two weeks. The final race of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will be held on June 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York, for the second consecutive year due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.