Godolphin rules with Sovereignty in Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE - Sovereignty outstayed favourite Journalism to win the US$5 million (S$6.48 million) Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (2,000m), giving the Godolphin Stable a first victory in the US racing classic at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Untroubled by the sloppy track after a rainy day in Louisville, the Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty gained control in the final furlong to give Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado his first Kentucky Derby success.
Alvarado worked his way past the fading Chunk of Gold, before Sovereignty and Journalism came neck and neck in the straight.
Sovereignty's final surge carried him to a 1½-length win.
Baeza, who got into the field on May 2 after two horses were scratched, flew home for third.
"It means the world to me. I thought I had a great chance," a mud-splattered Alvarado told NBC.
For Mott, it was officially his second Kentucky Derby victory, but it was the first time he got to see his horse hit the wire first.
He trained Country House, who was declared the winner in 2019 after Maximum Security was disqualified.
"This one got there the right way. It'll take a while to sink in." said the American handler.
It was a first Kentucky Derby victory for owner Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin Stable, in their 13th attempt in the famed race dubbed as Run for the Roses.
Connections will decide if the Into Mischief three-year-old colt will be pointed at the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes (1,900m), the second jewel in the US Triple crown series on May 17.
The race series will conclude with the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes (2,400m) on June 7.
"It was a wonderful horse race," said Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock.
"You've got the two best horses. One from the East Coast, one from the West Coast, locking down there, and not one of them giving an inch and right down to the wire before we got the better of Journalism.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race. We'll see what the Hall of Fame trainer wants to do with him, but if he's good coming out, it would be the logical place to go.
"We'd love to try and go back and win the Preakness."
Sovereignty's win in the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby capped an impressive week for the global powerhouse outfit.
Good Cheer won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (1,800m) for fillies at Churchill Downs on May 2, while Ruling Court captured the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas (1,600m) on May 3.
AFP
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