In a historic breakthrough for global powerhouse Godolphin, homebred colt SOVEREIGNTY stormed home under a resurgent Junior Alvarado to win the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs, delivering Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum his long-awaited first victory in the iconic American Classic.
The $3 million race, contested over 1¼ miles on a sloppy track, saw SOVEREIGNTY surge past the favored JOURNALISM in the final furlong to score by 1½ lengths in a time of 2:02.31. BAEZA, a late draw into the field and a half-brother to 2023 Derby hero Mage, flashed home for third, with FINAL GAMBIT also closing from well off the pace to finish fourth. Longshot OWEN ALMIGHTY, who had briefly taken the lead turning for home, finished fifth after chasing a blistering early pace.
For trainer BILL MOTT, the victory marks a second Kentucky Derby win—this time without controversy. Mott had previously saddled 2019 winner COUNTRY HOUSE, who was elevated via disqualification. But SOVEREIGNTY’s victory was undisputed, and it was particularly meaningful for Alvarado, who only returned to race-riding in mid-April following injury. It was the jockey’s first Derby triumph and the most significant moment of his career.
The result also cemented the legacy of elite sire INTO MISCHIEF, whose son SOVEREIGNTY became his third Kentucky Derby winner after AUTHENTIC (2020) and MANDALOUN (2021). INTO MISCHIEF now shares the record for most Derby winners sired in the modern era, a distinction not seen since Bull Lea’s dominance in the mid-20th century.
Godolphin’s Derby win came just 24 hours after their unbeaten filly GOOD CHEER captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1), completing a rare Oaks-Derby double that echoed the glory days of Calumet Farm. The royal blue silks had also flown high earlier in the day at Newmarket, where RULING COURT took the 2000 Guineas (G1), underscoring a remarkable global sweep for Sheikh Mohammed’s team.
SOVEREIGNTY’s Derby win was all the more impressive given a troubled start. The colt stumbled slightly after clipping heels shortly after the gates opened, forcing Alvarado to settle him towards the rear. As the field tore through fast fractions—:22.81 for the quarter and :46.23 for the half—SOVEREIGNTY bided his time. Last year’s champion juvenile CITIZEN BULL set the early tone, pressed hard by NEOEQUOS before fading under pressure.
At the top of the stretch, OWEN ALMIGHTY made a bold move to take the lead, but the real battle was forming behind. JOURNALISM rolled into contention, with SOVEREIGNTY hot on his heels. Matching strides down the lane, it was the Godolphin colt who found more, drawing away late to secure the roses and earn a $3.1 million winner’s check.
This success capped an already strong résumé. SOVEREIGNTY had broken his maiden in last fall’s Street Sense Stakes (G3) in stakes-record time over the same Churchill Downs surface. He returned with a gutsy win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and was runner-up in the Florida Derby (G1), showing his consistency and class. His record now stands at 6-3-2-0 with total earnings of $3,672,800.
Bred in Kentucky, SOVEREIGNTY is out of CROWNED, a Bernardini mare from the family of Grade 1 winner MUSHKA. The victory is a poignant tribute to Bernardini, who gave Sheikh Mohammed his first U.S. Classic win in the 2006 Preakness Stakes and now sees his grandson carry forward the legacy.
For Godolphin’s Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan, the moment was monumental. “Winning the Oaks yesterday and backing up with the Derby today—we have never won this one,” he said. “Bill Mott is one of our longest-serving trainers and he helped make history again.”
Bill Mott, visibly moved, added, “It will probably take a while to sink in. This horse comes from a great organisation, and I can’t say enough about what they’ve done to make this happen.”
As for Junior Alvarado, the win was more than just a career highlight. “This means the world to me. I was confident the whole week,” he said. “To do it with Mr. Mott and Godolphin—this is beyond a dream come true.”
With a commanding performance on the sport’s biggest stage, SOVEREIGNTY has written his name into the history books and fulfilled a dream long held by one of racing’s most influential figures. For Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin, the quest for Kentucky Derby glory is no longer a pursuit—it’s a triumph realized.
