Sovereignty (horse)
| Sovereignty | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Into Mischief |
| Grandsire | Harlan's Holiday |
| Dam | Crowned |
| Damsire | Bernardini |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | February 22, 2022[1] Kentucky, U.S. |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Godolphin |
| Owner | Godolphin |
| Trainer | William I. Mott |
| Record | 6: 3 – 2 – 0 |
| Earnings | $3,672,800 |
| Major wins | |
| Street Sense Stakes (2024) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2025) American Triple Crown wins: Kentucky Derby (2025) | |
| Last updated on May 3, 2025 | |
Sovereignty (foaled February 22, 2022)[2] is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby.[3]
Background
[edit]Sovereignty is owned by Godolphin, the thoroughbred stables owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai.[4]
Sovereignty's sire is Into Mischief, a Grade I winner at the age of two who has been North America's leading sire by purse winnings in multiple years since 2018. Sovereignty's dam is Crowned, an unraced mare whose sire is Bernardini (2003–2021), the American champion three-year-old of 2006 with victories in the Preakness Stakes, Travers Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Sovereignty's maternal grandmother, Mushka, is a winner of three graded races, including the Grade I Spinster Stakes. Sovereignty's pedigree includes three Triple Crown winners in Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.[5]
Racing career
[edit]2024: two-year-old season
[edit]Sovereignty lost his first race against maiden company at Saratoga in August 2024. In his second start at Aqueduct in September, he was beaten by only a neck. At the end of October, trainer Bill Mott sent Sovereignty into stakes company at Churchill Downs in the Grade III Street Sense Stakes over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. Leaving the gate a step slow and spotting the field in last place, Sovereignty eventually rallied on the outside through the Churchill stretch and drew away to win by 5 lengths.[6]
2025: three-year-old season
[edit]Sovereignty was rested until March, when Godolphin and Mott entered him into the three-year-old Kentucky Derby prep races at Gulfstream Park in Florida. His first race of 2025 was the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, in which he once again trailed the field before moving up around the turn and down the short stretch of Gulfstream's 1+1⁄16-mile racing configuration, defeating River Thames by a neck. The win gave Sovereignty 50 points in the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby.[7]
Sovereignty then entered the Grade I Florida Derby with jockey Manuel Franco, who was substituting for regular rider Junior Alvarado after Alvarado was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Sovereignty settled to eighth out of the ten runners early on and began to pass horses as the race progressed, but in the stretch he could not overtake eventual winner Tappan Street (also sired by Into Mischief). Sovereignty finished second, beaten by 1+1⁄4 lengths, but earned another 50 points which was enough for him to qualify to enter "The Run for the Roses."[8]
Kentucky Derby
[edit]Sovereignty drew post 18 in the 20-horse field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby and was made the 5-1 second choice on the morning line behind Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism. Junior Alvarado was reunited with Sovereignty for the race.[9]
On account of two scratches, Sovereignty broke from post 16. He bobbled after the gate break after Chunk Of Gold came in on him slightly from the adjacent starting position. Alvarado then settled Sovereignty down on the rail, where he was 16th as he and the 18 other horses ran through the stretch for the first time and into the clubhouse turn. Charted in 17th place with 1⁄2 mile remaining, Sovereignty began to pass horses while drifting five and six wide turning for home. Sovereignty followed Journalism into the stretch, and dueled with him until the final furlong when Sovereignty began to pull away. Sovereignty won the Derby by 1+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 2:02.31 over the sloppy going.[10][11][12][13] The Derby win was the first for Godolphin after twelve unsuccessful tries in the past, and the first for jockey Alvarado. It was the second Derby victory for trainer Bill Mott, whose horse Country House was placed first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security.[14]
Statistics
[edit]| Date | Distance | Race | Grade / Group |
Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 – Two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Aug 24, 2024 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 11.20 | 10 | 4 | 1:10.46 | (3+1⁄4 lengths) | Junior Alvarado | [15] | ||
| Sep 27, 2024 | 1 mile | Maiden Special Weight | Aqueduct | 2.45 | 6 | 2 | 1:36.14 | (neck) | Junior Alvarado | [16] | ||
| Oct 27, 2024 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Street Sense Stakes | III | Churchill Downs | 1.43* | 9 | 1 | 1:43.86 | 5 lengths | Junior Alvarado | [17] | |
| 2025 – Three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 1, 2025 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Fountain of Youth Stakes | II | Gulfstream Park | 3.20 | 6 | 1 | 1:43.12 | neck | Junior Alvarado | [18] | |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Florida Derby | I | Gulfstream Park | 1.70* | 10 | 2 | 1:49.27 | (1+1⁄4 lengths) | Manuel Franco | [19] | |
| May 3, 2025 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 7.98 | 19 | 1 | 2:02.31 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | Junior Alvarado | [10] | |
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Sovereignty was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire Into Mischief (2005) |
Harlan's Holiday (1999) |
Harlan (1989) |
Storm Cat (1983) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country Romance (1976) | |||
| Christmas in Aiken (1992) |
Affirmed (1975) | ||
| Dowager (1980) | |||
| Leslie's Lady (1996) |
Tricky Creek (1986) |
Clever Trick (1976) | |
| Battle Creek Girl (1977) | |||
| Crystal Lady (1990) |
Stop the Music (1970) | ||
| One Last Bird (1980) | |||
| Dam Crowned (2013) |
Bernardini (2003) |
A.P. Indy (1989) |
Seattle Slew (1974) |
| Weekend Surprise (1980) | |||
| Cara Rafaela (1993) |
Quiet American (1986) | ||
| Oil Fable (1986) | |||
| Mushka (2005) |
Empire Maker (2000) |
Unbridled (1987) | |
| Toussaud (1989) | |||
| Sluice (1998) |
Seeking The Gold (1985) | ||
| Lakeway (1991)(family: 9-f)[20] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pedigree of Sovereignty". Equineline. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "Tales from the Crib: Sovereignty". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Morik, Ryan (May 3, 2025). "Sovereignty wins 2025 Kentucky Derby". Fox News. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Black, Ryan (May 3, 2025). "Who owns Kentucky Derby 2025 winner Sovereignty? Meet Godolphin". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Black, Ryan (May 3, 2025). "Sovereignty is Kentucky Derby 2025 winner. Here's what to know about the horse's pedigree". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ Collins, Sean (October 27, 2024). "Godolphin Sweeps Derby, Oaks Preps at Churchill Downs". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Charlie (March 1, 2025). "Sovereignty Catches River Thames in Fountain of Youth". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Charlie (March 29, 2025). "Tappan Street Kicks Clear to Win Florida Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ King, Byron (April 26, 2025). "Favored Journalism Draws Post 8 for Kentucky Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "CHURCHILL DOWNS – May 3, 2025 – Race 12 – Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve Grade 1" (PDF). Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Grening, David (May 3, 2025). "Kentucky Derby 2025: Sovereignty runs down Journalism to complete Godolphin sweep". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ Frakes, Jason (May 3, 2025). "Sovereignty wins Kentucky Derby at 7–1 odds as Bill Mott etches name in history". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ Hackbarth, Chelsea (May 3, 2025). "'It's More Than Even A Dream': Sovereignty Reigns In Kentucky Derby". Paulick Report. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ Clay, John (May 4, 2025). "Godolphin wins its first Kentucky Derby, with a little help from Seattle Slew". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ "Saratoga – August 24, 2024 – Race 7". Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "Belmont at the Big A – September 27, 2024 – Race 6". Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "CHURCHILL DOWNS – October 27, 2024 – Race 10 – Street Sense S. Grade 3". Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "GULFSTREAM PARK – March 1, 2025 – Race 13 – Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. Grade 2". Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "GULFSTREAM PARK – March 29, 2025 – Race 14 – Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa Grade 1". Equibase. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Toxophilite Mare – Family 9-f". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved May 2, 2025.