On Saturday, May 3rd 2025, under overcast skies and a muddy track at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty emerged victorious in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, surpassing pre-race favored Journalism.
Ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty entered the race with 7-1 odds. Despite a slight stumble at the start, Alvarado skillfully guided Sovereignty, settling steady at the back of the pack. As the race progressed, Sovereignty advanced, eventually being right up against the favorite, Journalism.
In the final stretch of the race, Sovereignty pulled ahead, crossing the finish line of the 1 and ¼ mile track with a time of 2:02.31, according to ESPN. This victory marked Alvarado’s first Kentucky Derby win and added another prestigious title to Mott’s career.
The 2025 Derby was definitely a strong, eventful, and competitive race. The top five finishers were Sovereignty, Journalism-who was pre race favored, Baeza, Final Gambit, and Owen Almighty. Each contender brought unique skills to the track, but none could match Sovereignty’s strength, stamina, and timing.
With his Derby win, Sovereignty stands to be able to win the Triple Crown. This is considered one of the most difficult achievements in horse racing, and even for all sports championships. This requires wins in the Preakness Stakes (on May 17) and the Belmont Stakes (on June 7). Only 13 horses have ever completed this monumental challenge, the last being Justify in 2018.
As the Derby has coined the title of “the most exciting two minutes in sports”, many gather to watch it internationally. One of the viewers was Green Level freshman Ashley Weirich.
“My family and I watch the Derby together every year, and this year we watched it from Asheville which was a lot of fun. Honestly, I never put much thought into who I think will win, but it’s always so exciting to see all of the horses race with so much passion. I also used to horseback ride, so watching the Derby gives me lots of nostalgia.” says Weirich.
The Derby held over 150,000 fans at Churchill Downs, and millions of others from home. The race wasn’t just a test of speed-it was a narrative-rich show that broadcasted themes of surprise and resilience. Fans are already getting excited about the Derby for the 2026 year.
