Sovereignty Captures 2025 Kentucky Derby in Rain-Soaked Conditions
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with 19 horses competing for the prestigious garland of roses. According to USA Today, Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, emerged victorious in a rain-soaked 2025 Kentucky Derby, overcoming tough conditions and a competitive field.
The USA Today report stated that Sovereignty came out of the 18th gate and went off with the fourth-best odds at 7-1 as the race started. Journalism, which came in as the favorite at 3-1, placed second, with Baeza (13-1 odds) rounding out the top three. Sovereignty’s trainer, Bill Mott, expressed his delight with the win, saying, "This one got here the right way. I mean, he’s done well. He’s a great horse. He comes from a great organization."
As reported by USA Today, Bob Baffert, appearing in his first Kentucky Derby since 2021 due to suspension, fell short in his bid to become the winningest trainer in Kentucky Derby history as Citizen Bull placed 15th. Baffert’s six Kentucky Derby wins are tied with Ben Jones. Mott’s lone Kentucky Derby win before Saturday came with an asterisk in 2019, when Country House crossed the line second but was declared the winner after the disqualification of Maximum Security.
The USA Today report also mentioned that Sovereignty’s win marked a significant milestone for owner Godolphin, which had previously been 0-for-12 in Derby attempts. The victory also highlighted the successful partnership between Mott and Sovereignty, with the horse’s performance earning a winning share of $3.1 million from the Kentucky Derby purse.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby field was narrowed to 19 horses after Grande was scratched on Friday due to a foot bruise, and Rodriguez, one of two horses trained by Bob Baffert that was scheduled to race in the Derby, was also scratched with a foot bruise. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, joined the field in place of Rodriguez, with no replacement for Grande.
The USA Today report provided a detailed breakdown of the purse for this year’s Kentucky Derby, with the winner taking home a cash prize of $3.1 million, a record-breaking winner’s share. The jockey of the winning horse earned 10% of the first-place prize, which came out to be $310,000.
Churchill Downs, the venue for the Kentucky Derby, occupies 147 acres and features a one-mile dirt, oval racetrack and a seven-furlong turf racecourse. The facility is also home to barns that house more than 1,400 horses each year.
As reported by USA Today, the 2025 Kentucky Derby had a significant attendance, with the official attendance inside Churchill Downs announced as 147,406. The event also generated historic wagering numbers, with TwinSpires, the event’s official betting partner, handling $20.9 million, up about $600,000 from last year.
In related news, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles gave the "Riders Up" call ahead of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, wearing a lavender ensemble from The Hat Girls, a three-time featured milliner of the Kentucky Derby.
The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Coverage will start at 2 p.m. ET and will be covered across NBC and Peacock.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby results were as follows:
- 1st place: Sovereignty, $3.1 million
- 2nd place: Journalism, $1 million
- 3rd place: Baeza, $500,000
The payout for Sovereignty was:
- Win: $17.96
- Place: $7.50
- Show: $5.58
The odds for each horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, listed in order of post position, were:
- Sovereignty: 5/1
- Journalism: 3/1
- Baeza: 13/1
The USA Today report provided a comprehensive overview of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, including the start time, TV coverage, and live stream information. The event was broadcast live on NBC, with coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET, and was also streamed on Peacock and Fubo.
