LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sovereignty gave coach Invoice Mott a second Kentucky Derby victory. This time there was little doubt about it and no asterisk.
The three-year-old colt outdueled 3-1 favourite Journalism down the stretch to win the 151st Derby within the slop on Saturday, snapping an 0 for 13 skid by proprietor Godolphin.
Mott gained his first Derby in 2019, additionally run on a sloppy monitor, when Country House was elevated to first after Most Safety crossed the end line first and was disqualified throughout a 22-minute delay.
It took a couple of minutes for Saturday’s outcomes to be made official whereas the stewards sorted out a photograph for second and reviewed the chaotic begin.
Mott knew all of the whereas who earned the garland of purple roses.
“This one obtained there the correct method,” the Corridor of Fame coach stated. “I imply, he’s completed nicely, he’s a fantastic horse, he comes from a fantastic group and I can’t say sufficient concerning the horse and the group that began him out and made this occur.”
Godolphin is the racing secure of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
It was fairly a weekend for the sheikh. His filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and earlier Saturday, Ruling Courtroom — a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify — gained the two,000 Guineas in Britain.
Sovereignty, additionally bred by the sheikh, splashed by 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.31 and paid $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds. He’s the report twentieth horse with a reputation beginning with `S’ to win.
“It’s nice,” Mott stated. “I feel it’ll take a short time to sink in.”
Journalism didn’t have the cleanest of journeys within the 19-horse subject, however rallied to remain within the struggle. He discovered bother within the first flip and jockey Umberto Rispoli swung him outdoors to get him within the clear. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado adopted them.
“He was saying to me, ‘Hear, I’m prepared,’ so from there I began selecting up,” Alvarado stated.
The 2 colts connected on the eighth pole for an exhilarating battle earlier than Sovereignty pulled away.
Alvarado gained his first Derby in six tries. He and Sovereignty had been reunited after Alvarado had missed the colt’s final begin within the Florida Derby as a result of he was injured.
“It’s greater than a dream come true,” the 38-year-old Venezuelan stated. “I assumed I had a fantastic probability. I used to be assured the entire week.”
Baeza — who obtained into the race on Thursday after another horse was scratched — took third. Closing Gambit was fourth and Owen Almighty completed fifth.
Citizen Bull, the lone entry for six-time Derby-winning coach Bob Baffert, set the tempo. Baffert was again on the primary Saturday in Might having serving a three-year suspension by Churchill Downs after his Medina Spirit crossed the end line first in 2021 and failed a postrace drug check.
D. Wayne Lukas, the 89-year-old four-time Derby winner, noticed his colt American Promise end proper behind Baffert in fifteenth.
Rain made for a soggy day, with the Churchill Downs dust strip listed as sloppy and followers defending their fancy hats and clothes with clear plastic ponchos.
Burnham Sq. was sixth, adopted by Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Neoequos, Writer, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk and Admire Daytona.
