Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott described the result as “bittersweet” when 65.20-1 Country House won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in 2019 at Churchill Downs following the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference.

When Godolphin homebred Sovereignty bested favored Journalism by 1 ½ lengths in a torrid stretch duel in the 151^st Kentucky Derby on Saturday, the result was nothing but sweet for the 71-year-old Mott before 147,406 frenzied fans.

“This one got there the right way,” Mott said, adding, “This is better.”

Mott is as patient as they come. He is best known for his ability to develop older horses like fine wine. In this case, his willingness to stay the course with 3-year-old Sovereignty and develop the sophomore his way reaped huge rewards in the $5 million Derby.

When Sovereignty placed second in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, his last major prep race, Mott was undaunted. He noted that the running that matter most would be done on the first Saturday in May. Everything went to perfection after that.

“The way the horse was doing, I couldn’t have asked for anything different the last five weeks. Everything has gone smoothly,” Mott said. “You just can’t have any hiccups coming into a race like this.”

When jockey Junior Alvarado suffered a shoulder injury on March 23 that kept him from being aboard for the March 29 Florida Derby and ultimately sidelined him for three weeks, the trainer called him as he was leaving the hospital to assure him he would be back aboard if he recovered in time.

“That gave me a lot of peace of mind to recover the right way,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado did everything imaginable to return to the saddle, and Mott was true to his word in a world in which loyalties can be fleeting. The veteran jockey did everything right in handling the ultra-game Sovereignty, who wore down Santa Anita Derby victor Journalism in the final pulsating furlong.

“It makes you feel pretty good when you can outrun a horse like that,” Mott said.

As soon as the winner’s circle ceremonies ended, Alvarado, 38, called his mother in Venezuela. Before he could say much of anything, his mother exclaimed over and over, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!”

Sovereignty’s valiant performance put an exclamation point on a remarkable weekend for Godolphin. The world-renowned international operation captured its first Derby a little more than 24 hours after Good Cheer, another regally-bred homebred with jockey Luis Saez sporting its royal blue silks, extended her perfection to 7-for-7 in the Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill. Godolphin became the first sole owner to complete the Oaks-Derby sweep since Calumet Farm in 1952.

“It’s just a really solid organization and they’re team players,” Mott said of Godolphin. “They let me and Junior be part of making the decisions. It worked out really well (Saturday).”

Alvarado celebrates his first Derby win. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Baeza, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up who drew into the 19-horse field, rallied for third. Final Gambit, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks on an all-weather track at Turfway Park, also rallied to nab fourth and proved without a doubt that he can handle dirt in his first try on the surface. He traveled well over a sloppy surface pelted by rain much of the afternoon.

Mott’s self-assuredness showed in his willingness to buck a powerful trend in his handling of Sovereignty. The Into Mischief colt had only two preps leading into the run for the roses, eking out a neck victory in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes ahead of a closing effort in the Florida Derby. Horses with two preps had gone 0-for-47 in the Derby since 2016.

The mile-and-a-quarter classic was roughly run from the start. Citizen Bull, breaking from the dreaded rail in the 19-horse field, made a right-hand turn out of the starting gate under jockey Martin Garcia. That allowed him to take the early lead, but the 2-year-old champion had plenty of company with Neoequos and Owen Almighty in hot pursuit.

The strong pace that everyone anticipated materialized with Citizen Bull blazing an opening quarter in 22.81 seconds and a half in a 46.23 seconds. Perhaps it was predictable that Citizen Bull eventually wilted to 15^th.

Alvarado, meanwhile, liked the way the action was unfolding. “Everything was just falling into place,” he said. “I was able to save ground on the first turn. He was moving beautifully on the backside. When we hit the five-eighths pole, he said he was ready. I didn’t want to get too excited….I knew what he was capable of. He didn’t disappoint me.” Sovereignty completed the mile and a quarter in 2:02.31 as the third Derby betting choice at odds of 7.98-1.

Journalism, with Umberto Rispoli aboard, did disappoint his many backers despite a solid effort. “He made a nice middle move,” noted trainer Michael McCarthy. “On the turn for home, he opened up. But I saw the blue silks coming at us and I knew that was the one that I had to be concerned about.”

That concern soon turned into dismay. 

2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve
May 3rd, 2025

Winning Time: 2:02.31

• Purse: $5,000,000
• Distance: 1 1/4 Miles
• Age: 3 yo
• Surface: Dirt
• Winning Time: 2:02.31

Results

Win

Place

Show

1^st

18 Sovereignty

$17.96

$7.50

$5.58

• Jockey / Junior Alvarado
• Trainer / William I. Mott

• Owner / Godolphin, LLC
• Breeder / Godolphin

2^nd

8 Journalism

$4.94

$3.70

• Jockey / Umberto Rispoli
• Trainer / Michael W. McCarthy

• Owner / Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, LaPenta, Robert V., Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick
• Breeder / Don Alberto Corporation

3^rd

21 Baeza

$8.38

• Jockey / Flavien Prat
• Trainer / John A. Shirreffs

• Owner / C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine
• Breeder / Grandview Equine

4^th

3 Final Gambit

• Jockey / Luan Machado
• Trainer / Brad H. Cox

• Owner / Juddmonte
• Breeder / Juddmonte

5^th

20 Owen Almighty

• Jockey / Javier Castellano
• Trainer / Brian A. Lynch

• Owner / Flying Dutchmen
• Breeder / Mark Stanley

6^th

9 Burnham Square

• Jockey / Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
• Trainer / Ian R. Wilkes

• Owner / Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC
• Breeder / Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC

7^th

17 Sandman

• Jockey / Jose L. Ortiz
• Trainer / Mark E. Casse

• Owner / D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
• Breeder / Lothenbach Stables Inc

8^th

12 East Avenue

• Jockey / Manuel Franco
• Trainer / Brendan P. Walsh

• Owner / Godolphin, LLC
• Breeder / Godolphin

9^th

19 Chunk of Gold

• Jockey / Jareth Loveberry
• Trainer / Ethan W. West

• Owner / Terry L. Stephens
• Breeder / Brereton C. Jones

10^th

14 Tiztastic

• Jockey / Joel Rosario
• Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen

• Owner / Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick
• Breeder / Capital Bloodstock

11^th

16 Coal Battle

• Jockey / Juan P. Vargas
• Trainer / Lonnie Briley

• Owner / Norman Stables LLC
• Breeder / Hume Wornall & Jay Adcock

12^th

7 Luxor Cafe

• Jockey / Joao Moreira
• Trainer / Noriyuki Hori

• Owner / Koichi Nishikawa
• Breeder / Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland ULC

13^th

2 Neoequos

• Jockey / Luis Saez
• Trainer / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.

• Owner / C2 Racing Stable LLC, Parsard, Ian, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Reimer, Ken T., Braverman, Paul and Pinch, Timothy
• Breeder / Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon & Matalona Thoroughbres,LLC

14^th

13 Publisher

• Jockey / Irad Ortiz, Jr.
• Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen

• Owner / King, Gus and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
• Breeder / Brereton C. Jones

15^th

1 Citizen Bull

• Jockey / Martin Garcia
• Trainer / Bob Baffert

• Owner / SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, et al
• Breeder / Robert Low & Lawana Low

16^th

5 American Promise

• Jockey / Nik Juarez
• Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas

• Owner / BC Stables, LLC
• Breeder / Candy Meadows LLC

17^th

15 Render Judgment

• Jockey / Julien R. Leparoux
• Trainer / Kenneth G. McPeek

• Owner / Baccari Racing Stable LLC, Dream Walkin Farms, Inc., MJM Racing, Rocket Ship Racing and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
• Breeder / Green Lantern Stables

18^th

11 Flying Mohawk

• Jockey / Joseph D. Ramos
• Trainer / D. Whitworth Beckman

• Owner / Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing
• Breeder / John O'Meara

19^th

6 Admire Daytona (JPN)

• Jockey / Christophe Lemaire
• Trainer / Yukihiro Kato

• Owner / Junko Kondo
• Breeder / Northern Racing

Scratches

Grande

Rodriguez

Payoff

Pick 3
2-10-18

2-10-18

$64

Pick 3
3YO 7-7-18

3YO 7-7-18

$1,698

Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-10-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-10-18

$43

Pick 4
7/8/16/17/18-2-5/10/11-4/10/18

7/8/16/17/18-2-5/10/11-4/10/18

$236

Pick 5
SEE FOOTNOTE

SEE FOOTNOTE

$1,504

Pick 5
ALL DIRT 5/9/10-7-7-2-4/10/18

ALL DIRT 5/9/10-7-7-2-4/10/18

$6,594

Pick 6
OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

$3,575

Pick 6
OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

$58

Pick 6 Jackpot
SEE FOOTNOTE

SEE FOOTNOTE

$2,062

Daily Double
10-18

10-18

$27

Daily Double
OAKS/DERBY 11-18

OAKS/DERBY 11-18

$16

Exacta
18-8

18-8

$48

Consolation Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-5-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-5-18

$7

Consolation Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-11-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-11-18

$7

Future Wager
POOL 5 - 35

POOL 5 - 35

$17

Future Wager
POOL 3 - 36

POOL 3 - 36

$45

Future Wager
POOL 1 EX 33-40

POOL 1 EX 33-40

$72

Future Wager
POOL 3 EX 36-24

POOL 3 EX 36-24

$614

Future Wager
OAKS/DERBY DBL 15-40

OAKS/DERBY DBL 15-40

$86

Future Wager
SIRE POOL 2 - 40

SIRE POOL 2 - 40

$11

Future Wager
POOL 6 EX 35-20

POOL 6 EX 35-20

$113

Future Wager
POOL 5 EX 35-23

POOL 5 EX 35-23

$75

Future Wager
POOL 4 - 34

POOL 4 - 34

$38

Future Wager
SIRE POOL 2 EX 40-9

SIRE POOL 2 EX 40-9

$158

Future Wager
POOL 1 - 33

POOL 1 - 33

$47

Future Wager
POOL 4 EX 34-21

POOL 4 EX 34-21

$519

Future Wager
POOL 6 - 35

POOL 6 - 35

$21

Superfecta
18-8-21-3

18-8-21-3

$1,682

Super High Five
18-8-21-3-20

18-8-21-3-20

$38,406

Trifecta
18-8-21

18-8-21

$116

Payoff

Pick 3
2-10-18

2-10-18

$64

Pick 3
3YO 7-7-18

3YO 7-7-18

$1,698

Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-10-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-10-18

$43

Pick 4
7/8/16/17/18-2-5/10/11-4/10/18

7/8/16/17/18-2-5/10/11-4/10/18

$236

Pick 5
SEE FOOTNOTE

SEE FOOTNOTE

$1,504

Pick 5
ALL DIRT 5/9/10-7-7-2-4/10/18

ALL DIRT 5/9/10-7-7-2-4/10/18

$6,594

Pick 6
OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

$3,575

Pick 6
OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

OAKS/DERBY (SEE FOOTNOTE)

$58

Pick 6 Jackpot
SEE FOOTNOTE

SEE FOOTNOTE

$2,062

Daily Double
10-18

10-18

$27

Daily Double
OAKS/DERBY 11-18

OAKS/DERBY 11-18

$16

Exacta
18-8

18-8

$48

Consolation Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-5-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-5-18

$7

Consolation Pick 3
OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-11-18

OAKS/FRSTR/DERBY 11-11-18

$7

Future Wager
POOL 5 - 35

POOL 5 - 35

$17

Future Wager
POOL 3 - 36

POOL 3 - 36

$45

Future Wager
POOL 1 EX 33-40

POOL 1 EX 33-40

$72

Future Wager
POOL 3 EX 36-24

POOL 3 EX 36-24

$614

Future Wager
OAKS/DERBY DBL 15-40

OAKS/DERBY DBL 15-40

$86

Future Wager
SIRE POOL 2 - 40

SIRE POOL 2 - 40

$11

Future Wager
POOL 6 EX 35-20

POOL 6 EX 35-20

$113

Future Wager
POOL 5 EX 35-23

POOL 5 EX 35-23

$75

Future Wager
POOL 4 - 34

POOL 4 - 34

$38

Future Wager
SIRE POOL 2 EX 40-9

SIRE POOL 2 EX 40-9

$158

Future Wager
POOL 1 - 33

POOL 1 - 33

$47

Future Wager
POOL 4 EX 34-21

POOL 4 EX 34-21

$519

Future Wager
POOL 6 - 35

POOL 6 - 35

$21

Superfecta
18-8-21-3

18-8-21-3

$1,682

Super High Five
18-8-21-3-20

18-8-21-3-20

$38,406

Trifecta
18-8-21

18-8-21

$116

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