On a rainy Saturday at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty delivered a decisive victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby, earning Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his second win in the Run for the Roses. This time, there was no disqualification, no controversy—just raw power and precision in the slop. The Godolphin colt, bred by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, surged past favored Journalism in the final furlong, pulling away by 1½ lengths in front of over 147,000 soaked fans.
For Mott, it was a far cry from the 2019 Derby win, where Country House was awarded first after a lengthy steward review. Saturday’s decision took only a few minutes to confirm Sovereignty’s triumph and finalize the tight photo for second. The win also snapped a frustrating 0-for-13 Derby record for Godolphin, capping a historic weekend for the powerhouse stable that included victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Britain’s 2,000 Guineas.
Jockey Junior Alvarado, back aboard Sovereignty after missing the Florida Derby due to injury, guided the colt with perfect timing, rallying behind a pace set by Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull. Journalism, which encountered early trouble, battled gamely but couldn’t fend off the late charge.
With $3.1 million in earnings and a clear statement made, Sovereignty now heads to Baltimore as the favorite for the May 18 Preakness Stakes.
Source: ESPN