Sovereignty came home a radiant winner in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, contested beneath the famed Twin Spires at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The contest played out in epic style, as Sovereignty took home the first leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s storied Triple Crown. In a pulsating finale, Sovereignty lashed out in the home straight, toe to toe with enemy Free Press. In the closing seconds, it broke away to secure the win.
Junior Alvarado was aboard Sovereignty and rode with remarkable toughness. Only five weeks prior he’d been nursing a fractured shoulder that kept him on the shelf. His phenomenal closing speed set the stage for a legendary race among legendary foes. Journalism came up only a nose short of Sovereignty, as Baeza brings home the third place honors.
A Race to Remember
The recent Kentucky Derby is a great example of that heated competition. As they swung into the homestretch, both Sovereignty and Journalism launched their respective bids simultaneously. Both equines went around the outside, setting up an electrifying battle. As they got closer and closer to the finish line, nerves mounted on both sides. Sovereignty and Journalism battled tooth and nail down the last 16th of a mile.
Bill Mott, trainer of Sovereignty, said he was quite proud of his horse’s performance. He noted, “I saw him gearing up when he left the half-mile pole, he started to pick up his momentum, and I lost him a little bit.” Mott touched on Sovereignty’s remarkable quickness, too. In terms of where he started from and where he is now he’s caught up a tremendous amount of ground really quickly.”
The race was not without its challenges. Bob Baffert, a prominent trainer who was banned from Churchill Downs for three years, had his horse Citizen Bull take an early lead from the pole position. But as Sovereignty and Journalism rounded into the final turn, it was clear that a clash of these two titans was inevitable.
The Jockey’s Perspective
Here is what Junior Alvarado had to say about riding Sovereignty, particularly about how confident he felt during the race. “I felt like I had a really good opportunity,” he said. It was his drive and talent on display as he carried Sovereignty over the finish line in first place against tough competition.
In addition, Baeza, who was riding in third place, reported extensively on her experiences during the race. “I felt pretty assured the entire time,” he said, adding that he truly felt that his campaign and work put him in a position where a better cycle overall could have produced much different results.
A Historic Win
Because it is a deeply symbolic win Alvarado’s and Mott’s victory for sovereignty may be their single biggest achievement. Moreover, it foreshadows the test that awaits in the Triple Crown series’ biggest races. After this historic win at the Kentucky Derby, all eyes will surely be focused on Mage for the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
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