Who Won the Kentucky Derby 2025? Sovereignty’s Stunning Victory Shocks Churchill Downs

Who Won the Kentucky Derby 2025? Sovereignty’s Stunning Victory Shocks Churchill Downs

Sovereignty clinched victory at the 151st Kentucky Derby, held on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race, run on a sloppy track due to rain, concluded with Sovereignty finishing the 1¼-mile distance in 2:02.31.

Ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty entered the race with 7-1 odds, surpassing the 3-1 favorite, Journalism, who secured second place. Baeza, a late entry with the number 21, claimed third place, while Final Gambit rounded out the top four.

This victory marked a significant achievement for both Alvarado and Mott. For Alvarado, it was his first Kentucky Derby win, and he described the experience as “more than even a dream come true.” For Mott, it was his second Derby victory, the first being in 2019 with Country House.

Sovereignty’s win also contributed to a notable accomplishment for Godolphin, the horse’s owner. The day before the Derby, Godolphin’s filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks, making them the first sole ownership to win both races in the same year since 1952.

The 2025 Kentucky Derby continued the trend of underdogs performing well, with Sovereignty’s 7-1 odds following six previous winners averaging 33-1 odds. Notably, Rich Strike’s 80-1 odds in 2022 made it the second-biggest long shot in Derby history.

The full finishing order of the race is as follows:

1. Sovereignty

2. Journalism

3. Baeza

4. Final Gambit

5. Owen Almighty

6. Burnham Square

7. Sandman

8. East Avenue

9. Chunk Of Gold

10. Tiztastic

11. Coal Battle

12. Luxor Cafe

13. Neoequos

14. Publisher

15. Citizen Bull

16. American Promise

17. Render Judgment

18. Flying Mohawk

19. Admire Daytona

Two horses, Rodriguez and Grande, were scratched before the race.

Betting payouts reflected the competitive field, with the exacta paying $48.32 for a $2 bet, the trifecta returning $115.56 on a $0.50 bet, and the superfecta yielding $1,682.27 on a $1 wager.

Sovereignty’s victory adds another exciting chapter to the Derby’s storied history, highlighting the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the “Run for the Roses.”