Outfinishing the world's best 3-year-old Thoroughbreds beneath the famed twin spires of Churchill Downs, Sovereignty ran his way into the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner's circle May 3, and owner/breeder Godolphin into the history books.
Godolphin, the international Thoroughbred racing and breeding juggernaut founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took the elusive Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby double, capturing Churchill's two most important races. Godolphin's homebred Good Cheer rallied her way to a wet-track victory in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1), followed a day later by another homebred, Sovereignty, who splashed past favored Journalism to prevail in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths.
Not since 1952, when Real Delight won the Oaks and Hill Gail won the Derby for Calumet Farm, had an owner/breeder pulled off such a feat.
"Unbelievable," said an awestruck Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock, moments after Sovereignty crossed the wire first in the Derby.
Many in the rain-soaked crowd of 147,406 at Churchill Downs—and the 20 million or so watching on television—had a right to feel similarly after watching the $5 million race.
Sovereignty, under Junior Alvarado, put on a late-running display, rallying from 17th in the field of 19 with a kick that not even Journalism could contain in the 1 1/4-mile first leg of the American Triple Crown. After bobbling at the start, he settled more than nine lengths off a quick pace of :22.81, :46.23, and 1:10.78 set by reigning juvenile champion male Citizen Bull, then began picking off rivals with a second-turn advance. He had moved into fourth by the top of the lane, just behind Journalism in third, with the duo in hot pursuit of Neoequos and Owen Almighty, who were heads apart while contesting for the lead after a mile in 1:36.84.
But they wouldn't hold the lead for long. Journalism took command in early stretch, but with a furlong remaining, Sovereignty was in front and gradually inched clear on his way to Derby glory. He hit the wire in 2:02.31 over a sloppy track, well off Secretariat's track record set in 1973 of 1:59.40, but quick for the sloppy conditions. He paid $17.96 for a $2 win wager.
Baeza, who had been second to Journalism in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1), was unable to quicken with the top two on the second turn and in early stretch, but found a late gear and finished third, a neck behind Journalism.
Final Gambit, making his first start on dirt, rallied for fourth, and Owen Almighty held on for fifth.
Sovereignty won with an acknowledged riding violation from Alvarado. According to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules, jockeys are permitted to strike their mounts only six times on their hindquarters, but video replays showed Alvarado exceeding that threshold. Provided stewards see the race similarly upon reviewing race films, he would appear likely to be issued a $31,000 fine and a one-day suspension for the infraction per HISA rules.
READ: In Heat of Derby Battle, Alvarado Exceeds Crop Limit
Earlier during the press conference, he noted the loyalty shown him by winning trainer Bill Mott, who last month assured the jockey he would regain the mount on Sovereignty in the Derby when the rider was sidelined for a few weeks and missed riding him in the Florida Derby (G1). Sovereignty finished second in the latter race under replacement jockey Manny Franco.
But Saturday, the pairing between Sovereignty and Alvarado worked to perfection, as it had in earlier stakes wins in the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and in last fall's victory in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. It is Alvarado's first Derby win and first classic win.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who won his second Kentucky Derby after Country House 's victory via the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference in 2019, was able to celebrate winning the Derby this time by seeing his colt cross the finish line first.
Mott praised Alvarado for negotiating a ground-saving trip into the first of two turns from post 16. Sovereignty rallied wide later in the race.
"You don't win grade 1s by being four, five wide in both turns," he said.
Sovereignty's victory gave his sire, Into Mischief , a record-tying third victory from one of his progeny in the Kentucky Derby.
READ: Sovereignty Gives Into Mischief a Third Kentucky Derby Winner
Sovereignty was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin out of the Bernardini mare Crowned, his pedigree a match of speed and staying power, brilliance and class.
With his Derby victory, Sovereignty is 3-2-0 in six starts with earnings of $3,672,800.
Journalism, the 3-1 favorite, had a rough trip over the opening quarter-mile, getting squeezed early and jostled between horses as the field passed the stands for the first time. Spotted in 10th into the first turn, he too was able to save ground, but his rider, Umberto Rispoli, felt Journalism was uncomfortable racing in the the slop.
"He was the best horse on a fair track," the rider said, his face covered in mud.
He was not the only one with an excuse. Sixth-place Burnham Square checked sharply on the second turn, falling back from eighth after six furlongs to 12th a mile into the race. He passed tired horses to finish 10 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Luxor Cafe, Neoeqous, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk, and Admire Daytona completed the order of finish.
The Brendan Walsh-trained East Avenue was a second Derby starter Saturday for Godolphin.
Japanese-trained runners Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona never threatened. Japanese horses are now winless in 10 attempts in the Derby, though they came close last year when Forever Young was a close third.
Citizen Bull brought six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert to the Derby, though his horse showed distance limitations, checking in more than 33 lengths behind Sovereignty. Churchill Downs had suspended Baffert for more than three years after his horse Medina Spirit was disqualified for a medication infraction in the 2021 race.
Whether some of Saturday's Derby competitors return in two weeks of rest in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1), will be determined by how they exit the Derby and train in the coming days. Most losing horses in the Derby are kept out of the Preakness to await the final leg, the Belmont Stakes (G1), in five weeks.
Mott seemed open to the possibility of running Sovereignty back in the Preakness, a race in which most Derby winners compete in pursuit of the accomplishment of attempting to win all three races. Only 13 horses have swept the Triple Crown.
Ultimately, however, Sovereignty's health and energy level will determine whether those races are viable. For Saturday at least, his connections were enjoying savoring the Derby. Godolphin, whose banner weekend included a Two Thousand Guineas (G1) score with Ruling Court, previously recorded wins in the other legs of the Triple Crown.
The Derby has "been a long time in the coming," Banahan acknowledged, describing it as special "to be able to do that for our boss, the founder of Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed."
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