Sovereignty delivers first Kentucky Derby success for Godolphin

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Entering the 151st edition of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs, America's premier event had been virtually the one worldwide classic that had eluded Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's international racing juggernaut.

A proper victory in the Kentucky Derby had also eluded Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, whose lone visit to the Derby winner's circle had been somewhat unsatisfying when Country House crossed the wire in second but was elevated to first in 2019 on the disqualification of Maximum Security.

The Derby, heck any classic, had eluded jockey Junior Alvarado, whose previous pinnacle in a successful journeyman career had been as the regular pilot of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish, another colt owned by Godolphin and trained by Mott.

The stars aligned for all three on a dreary, wet day in Louisville, when Sovereignty wore down 3-1 favorite Journalism inside the final furlong to claim the roses by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 2:02.31 over a sloppy track.

The Derby was the centerpiece of an epic weekend for Godolphin, which also celebrated victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Good Cheer on Friday. Earlier Saturday, the stable's Ruling Court captured the classic 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in England, and another classic was possible Sunday with the three-year-old filly Desert Flower heavily favored to win the 1000 Guineas (G1), also at Newmarket.

For Mott, this Derby success was obviously much sweeter than his first.

"This is better," said Mott, comparing his win Saturday with that of Country House. "I want to finish first, cross the line first.

"It's just a really special feeling to win and have it happen for the team. Number one, my regular rider, Junior Alvarado. I mean, I think it's it made that special. I think it makes it special for both of us."

Sovereignty had only three rivals behind him entering the clubhouse turn and turning onto the backside. As many projected, the pace was a fast one. Reigning juvenile champion Citizen Bull did the dirty work while under pressure through the opening six furlongs, accomplished in :22.81, :46.23, and 1:10.78.

Passing the half-mile final pole, Alvarado asked Sovereignty to pick up the pace, and he did so readily, passing most of the field while following directly behind Journalism. Although Journalism got the jump on Sovereignty, all the momentum appeared to be with Godolphin colt at the top of the stretch.

Hooking Journalism with a little more than a furlong to go, Sovereignty began to edge clear shortly thereafter and pulled away late. The third choice in a field of 19, Sovereignty paid $17.96.

Journalism just clung on to second by a neck over a fast-closing Baeza, who only made it into the main body of the field on Friday after the scratch of Rodriguez. Grande was also withdrawn.

Final Gambit, who trailed for more than half the race, rallied for fourth and was followed by Owen Almighty, Burnham Square, Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Luxor Cafe, Neoequos, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk, and Admire Daytona.

In typical Mott style, Sovereignty was brought along slowly. Not receiving the best of trips in his debut at Saratoga going six furlongs last August, Sovereignty nonetheless caught the eye when making an impressive rally to finish fourth. Stepped up to a mile for another maiden, this time at Aqueduct, Sovereignty made progress but still fell short, finishing second by a neck.

Although Sovereignty was winless, Mott had no qualms entering the colt in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs in late October. Bettors who sent Sovereignty off at around 7-5 felt confident, too, and Sovereignty delivered with a five-length romp over Tiztastic, the eventual Louisiana Derby (G2) winner, and Sandman, future winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Sovereignty prepped twice at Gulfstream Park, just getting up to win the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) in the final strides by a neck, but showing less punch in the nine-furlong Florida Derby (G1), in which he finished 1 1/4 lengths second to Tappan Street.

"Maybe I backed off a little bit because he ran such a big race off of the layoff," Mott said. "When they come back off a layoff and they run as big as he did on that day, sometimes they can react a little bit from a race like that. And perhaps he did react a little bit in. In the Florida Derby. It was still a good, solid race.

"I really didn't lose any confidence in him because he finished second. I think it's the different circumstances on the track down there and that it probably doesn't favor a stretch closer like that today."

The Kentucky-bred Sovereignty is the third Derby winner sired by Into Mischief in the last six years, following Authentic's score in the pandemic-delayed Derby held in September 2020 and Mandaloun's belated elevation to first via disqualification in the 2021 edition. He was produced by Crowned, a daughter of Sheikh Mohammed's 2006 Preakness (G1) winner Bernardini and Grade 1 winner Mushka.

The noun sovereignty is generally defined as supreme power or authority. Given what Sovereignty the horse showed on American racing's biggest stage, the name is entirely fitting.