Sovereignty Outlasts Journalism to Win Kentucky Derby
Sovereignty edged favored Journalism to take home the garland of roses in the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs May 3. The margin of victory was 1 1/2 lengths. Baeza was a neck behind Journalism in third.
The son of leading sire Into Mischief is owned and bred by Godolphin, which won its first Kentucky Derby, and trained by Bill Mott, who won his second Derby. He won with Country House in 2019 following the disqualification of first-place finisher Maximum Security .
Sovereignty stopped the clock for the 1 1/4 miles over a sloppy (sealed) track in 2:02.31 under jockey Junior Alvarado. Journalism, Baeza, and Final Gambit were second, third, and fourth respectively. Owen Almighty was fifth.
Citizen Bull , breaking from post 1, held the lead over the first three-quarters of a mile, but the pace was too hot for him to sustain. He posted fractions of :22.81, :46.23, and 1:10.78. Neoequos led at the top of the stretch.
Journalism fell toward the back of the field early but jockey Umberto Rispoli navigated the other rivals and the muddy track to get to the front on the stretch.
But Alvarado and Sovereignty were not going to be denied. Swinging outside around the final turn, Sovereignty matched Journalism and pulled away in the final strides.
A $2 win ticket paid $17.96
The win caps a banner weekend for owner/breeder Godolphin, who May 2 won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Good Cheer , then earlier Saturday won the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) with Ruling Court at Newmarket Racecourse and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) with Think Big .
This story will be updated.
