The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, held on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, delivered a thrilling spectacle as Sovereignty surged past the favorite Journalism to claim victory in the “Run for the Roses.” Under muddy conditions on a rain-soaked track, the Godolphin-owned colt, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, showcased tactical speed to secure the $3.1 million winner’s share of the $5 million purse. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the order of finish, results, payouts, and highlights from the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
- Sovereignty – 2:02.31
- Journalism
- Baeza
- Final Gambit
- Owen Almighty
- Burnham Square
- Sandman
- East Avenue
- Chunk of Gold
- Tiztastic
- Coal Battle
- Luxor Cafe
- Neoequos
- Publisher
- Citizen Bull
- American Promise
- Render Judgement
- Flying Mohawk
- Admire Daytona
Scratched: Rodriguez, Grande
The 2025 Kentucky Derby featured a $5 million purse, distributed among the top five finishers. Payouts for betting were calculated based on a $2 wager unless otherwise noted. Below are the official payouts:
- Win: Sovereignty – $17.96
- Place: Sovereignty – $7.50, Journalism – $4.94
- Show: Sovereignty – $5.58, Journalism – $3.70, Baeza – $8.38
- $2 Exacta (18-8): $48.32
- $1 Trifecta (18-8-21): $231.12
- $1 Superfecta (18-8-21-3): $1,682.27
- $1 Super High-Five (18-8-21-3-20): $38,405.96
The 2025 Kentucky Derby unfolded on a sloppy track, with rain creating challenging conditions for the 19-horse field. Early in the race, Citizen Bull, trained by Bob Baffert, set a fast pace alongside longshots Neoequos and Owen Almighty. Sovereignty and Journalism, both starting deep in the pack, made their moves in the second half. As the field entered the final stretch, the two favorites battled nose-to-nose, with Sovereignty, positioned on the outside, pulling ahead by 1 ½ lengths to secure the win. Baeza, a late entry, closed strongly to take third.
This victory marked a historic moment for Godolphin, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which had been 0-for-13 in prior Derby attempts. For trainer Bill Mott, it was a second Derby win, but his first with a horse crossing the finish line first, as his 2019 victory with Country House came via disqualification. Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding in his sixth Derby, earned his first win just days after a hospital visit due to an injury sustained at Churchill Downs.
The field of horses make their way into the front stretch Saturday, May 3, 2025, during of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
- Sovereignty: The 7-1 shot demonstrated resilience, overcoming a wide No. 18 post and muddy conditions to deliver a commanding performance. Mott praised the colt’s ability to make up ground quickly, noting, “He’s a great horse.”
- Journalism: The 7-2 favorite faced trouble early, getting shuffled toward the rail, but rallied strongly to finish second. Trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Umberto Rispoli expressed disappointment but acknowledged the horse’s talent.
- Baeza: A late replacement for scratched Rodriguez, Baeza (ridden by Flavien Prat) defied expectations to claim third, showcasing the strength of trainer John Shirreffs’ program.
- Citizen Bull: Bob Baffert’s return to the Derby after a three-year suspension saw Citizen Bull lead early but fade to 15th.
Sovereignty’s connections remained non-committal about entering the Preakness Stakes on May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Mott and Godolphin’s Michael Banahan indicated they would assess the horse’s condition before deciding. If Sovereignty competes, he’ll be a top contender to continue the Triple Crown chase, with the Belmont Stakes following on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.
Sovereignty’s time of 2:02.31 was respectable given the sloppy track, though slower than the fastest Derby times, like Secretariat’s 1:59.40 in 1973. The win added to the legacy of Churchill Downs, where the Derby has been held annually since 1875. Notably, all 19 horses in the 2025 field were descended from Secretariat, underscoring his enduring influence.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby once again proved why it’s called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” with Sovereignty etching his name into racing history. Fans and bettors now look to the Preakness to see if the Godolphin colt can take another step toward Triple Crown glory.
For more Kentucky Derby updates, visit KentuckyDerby.com or follow @KentuckyDerby on X (Twitter)
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