Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby 2025 in Rainy Showdown

Lovely P.
· · ·
Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby 2025 in Rainy Showdown
photo via @kentuckyderby / Instagram

Sovereignty wins Kentucky Derby 2025 after powering through a muddy track and a competitive field to secure a dramatic and well-earned victory. The win at Churchill Downs on Saturday came as a surprise to many, as Sovereignty was not the favorite going in. The 3-year-old colt crossed the finish line in 2:02.31, a strong time given the rain-soaked conditions.

The race unfolded with tension as early leaders Citizen Bull and East Avenue set a quick pace in the sloppy mud. Journalism, the betting favorite, surged ahead during the middle of the race and looked set to claim the crown. But Sovereignty, under skillful handling, found another gear down the stretch, overtaking Journalism by one-and-a-half lengths.

At the wire, Baeza surged from behind in a near-miraculous effort, finishing third by just a nose behind Journalism. The close finish created buzz about what could come next for these contenders in the Triple Crown series.

Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby 2025: Who Placed Where

Here’s how the top three finished:

  • 1st: Sovereignty – Earned $3.1 million of the $5 million purse
  • 2nd: Journalism – Fought hard but was overtaken late
  • 3rd: Baeza – Late entry, finished impressively despite conditions

Trainer Bill Mott, who hails from South Dakota, was full of pride after Sovereignty’s win. “I’m proud of the horse and the whole team. This win took effort from everyone — it really takes a community to prepare a horse like this,” he said, surrounded by friends near the winner’s circle.

On the other side, Journalism’s trainer Michael McCarthy offered praise despite coming up short. “He made his move early and ran his best, but we knew Sovereignty was the one to watch,” McCarthy explained. “The winner just had more today.”

Baeza’s Impressive Show Finish Raises Eyebrows

Perhaps the most eye-catching performance came from Baeza. The horse was only added to the lineup late in the week after another horse, Rodriguez, was scratched. Despite never running in muddy conditions before, Baeza handled the wet track with ease and finished strong.

Trainer John Shirreffs shared his thoughts post-race: “He shipped for the first time, handled the slop, and nearly placed second. That’s a huge result for us.”

While the track conditions impacted many, the top three horses — especially Sovereignty — handled the mud with impressive focus and drive. As fans now look ahead to the Preakness Stakes, all eyes are on whether Sovereignty can chase history with a Triple Crown run.

More…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *