Who is Sovereignty? Meet the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner with these fast facts.

Aaron Mudd, Lexington Herald-Leader on May 3, 2025

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Sovereignty has won the 151st Kentucky Derby, beating the favorite Journalism on a sloppy track soaked with rain at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado, 38, described the win as a “dream come true” that “meant the world to me.”

“I thought I had a great chance,” said Alvarado, thanking Sovereignty’s trainer, Bill Mott, for sticking by him even through an injury.

Alvarado’s faith in Sovereignty paid off, given the Kentucky colt’s previous best career race was at Churchill Downs, experience that may have help with navigating Saturday’s sloppy track conditions.

Here are some fast facts to know about Sovereignty:

What were the horse’s odds?

Sovereignty went off from the gate with 9-1 odds, and while he wasn’t the favorite, his name was frequently mentioned by horse racing experts and included in their predictions.

What’s its pedigree?

Sire: Into Mischief.

Dam: Crowned by Bernardini.

Sovereignty was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin.

Who’s its jockey?

Prior to Saturday, Alvarado, 38, had five Kentucky Derby starts under his belt with the best finish coming on Mohayem (fourth) in 2026.

Who is the horse’s trainer?

Bill Mott, 71, of South Dakota is Sovereignty’s trainer. Prior to his win Saturday, Mott had one other win in 13 Derby starts with Country House via disqualification in 2019.

Who owns the horse?

Godolphin LLC, which was founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai.

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