So, like, I was totally not around when trainer Bill Mott won the Kentucky Derby for the first time, but apparently, he had to wait for, like, 23 minutes while stewards argued about disqualifying some horse named Maximum Security. In the end, Country House was declared the winner. Fast forward to this year, Mott finally snagged another Derby victory with his horse, Sovereignty, crossing the finish line 1 ½ lengths ahead of the favorite, Journalism. The 151st Kentucky Derby was a total slugfest with Sovereignty coming out on top.
The weather was, like, super gloomy, cold, and wet on that day, but that didn’t stop the Hall of Fame trainer or the 147,406 fans from witnessing Sovereignty’s epic win. Journalism’s chances kinda got messed up at the start when the inside horses bunched up and pushed him towards the rail. But he made a strong comeback on the far turn with Sovereignty hot on his heels. It was a neck-to-neck battle as they entered the stretch, with Sovereignty eventually pulling ahead in the final strides, making history and paying off at $17.96 to win.
Mott was over the moon about the win, saying he was quiet until the horses hit the wire, but then all his emotions just burst out. He gave props to his horse, his team, and the entire community that helped get Sovereignty ready for the big race. Without Sovereignty in the mix, it pretty much played out like the Santa Anita Derby, with Journalism leading the pack and Baeza taking third from way out on the outside. Turns out, starting from the outside was an advantage, with four of the top seven horses beginning from post 17 or further.
The rest of the field, from fourth place onwards, included Final Gambit, Owen Almighty, Burnham Square, Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Luxor Café, Neoequos, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk, and Admire Daytona. Jockey Junior Alvarado rode Sovereignty to victory, marking his first win in a Triple Crown race. Alvarado shared his strategy, saying he tried to save ground early on and felt Sovereignty was ready to make his move at the five-eighths pole. And boy, did Sovereignty deliver when it mattered the most.
Journalism’s trainer, Michael McCarthy, had no complaints about his horse’s performance, admitting that they got outplayed by Sovereignty. Even jockey Umberto Rispoli acknowledged that Sovereignty was just the better horse that day. Third-place finisher Baeza also received praise for running a solid race, especially considering it was his first time running on a wet track.
The track conditions were listed as sloppy, reminiscent of Mott’s previous Derby win with Country House. Bob Baffert made his first Derby appearance since the whole Medina Spirit debacle in 2021. He brought two horses to the race, but one had to be scratched due to a minor hoof issue. Citizen Bull, the remaining horse, led the pack for a while but eventually faded in the muddy conditions.
At 71 years old, Mott has quite the Derby experience under his belt, having been part of many memorable races over the years. Sovereignty’s owner, Godolphin, was still undecided about sending the horse to the Preakness Stakes but hinted that it was a possibility depending on how Sovereignty recovered from the Derby.
Overall, the 151st Kentucky Derby was a thrilling race filled with unexpected turns and unforgettable moments. It was a day where Sovereignty proved his mettle, Mott celebrated another victory, and fans witnessed history in the making. Who knows what the future holds for Sovereignty, but one thing’s for sure—his Derby win will be remembered for years to come.
