 |
|
| Staff Writer |
Sovereignty powered through the slop to win the 151st running of the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby, giving owner-breeder Godolphin a historic Oaks-Derby double and sire Into Mischief a record-equalling third winner of America's most prestigious race.
The bay colt, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, overcame a bobble at the start before delivering a devastating late surge to defeat favourite Journalism by 1½ lengths in testing conditions at Churchill Downs.
 |
The victory carried special significance for Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, completing an achievement not seen since Calumet Farm in 1952. Their homebred Good Cheer had taken the Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks just 24 hours earlier.
"Unbelievable," said an awestruck Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock, moments after Sovereignty crossed the wire first. "It's been a long time in the coming to be able to do that for our boss, the founder of Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed."
The rain-soaked crowd of 147,406 witnessed a true test of stamina as Sovereignty rallied from 17th position, more than nine lengths off the early pace set by juvenile champion Citizen Bull, who recorded fractions of 22.81, 46.23, and 1:10.78.
Settling near the rear after his awkward start, Sovereignty began picking off rivals on the second turn and had moved into fourth by the top of the home straight. By then, Journalism had taken command in early stretch, but with furlong remaining, Sovereignty surged to the front and gradually pulled clear to win in 2:02.31 over the sloppy track.
The victory confirmed Into Mischief as one of history's great stallions, making him the first since Bull Lea in 1957 to sire three Kentucky Derby winners, tying the all-time record shared with only three others: Virgil, Falsetto, and Sir Gallahad III.
"He's a wonderful stallion. He's a great speed influence but, as you can see, if he gets the right mare he can get classic 1¼-mile horses as well," noted Banahan.
Mark Toothaker, Spendthrift Farm's stallion sale manager, added: "He's rare. That's the thing with Into Mischief, is with him being the leading general sire in North America six years in a row and now this year, pretty much has a real shot to make it seven years in a row.
"You've got to go back to Bold Ruler in the '60s to find another stallion like that. And for him to accomplish what he did today, it just further proves what a great sire he is, and what a historic sire he is."
Into Mischief's rise has been remarkable, standing for as little as US$7,500 early in his stud career before rising to his current fee of US$250,000. His first grade one winner came from his first crop when Goldencents won the Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby in 2013.
"He's a breed-changing sire," Toothaker said. "And we are all unbelievably blessed to be at Spendthrift at the same time he's there. He is just a rarity."
For Alvarado, it was a first Derby win and first classic victory, made all the sweeter by Mott's loyalty after the jockey missed riding Sovereignty in the Gr.1 Florida Derby due to injury.
"You don't win grade 1s by being four, five wide in both turns," said Mott, praising Alvarado's ground-saving trip into the first turn from post 16, before launching a wide rally later in the race.
It was Mott's second Kentucky Derby triumph, though his first outright winner as his previous success with Country House in 2019 came via disqualification of the first-past-the-post.
The result extended the wait for Japanese connections to taste Derby success, with Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona never threatening. Japanese horses are now winless in 10 attempts, though they came close last year when Forever Young was a close third.
Journalism's rider, Umberto Rispoli, felt the favourite struggled with the sloppy conditions after getting squeezed early. "He was the best horse on a fair track," the rider said, his face covered in mud.
Baeza finished a neck behind Journalism in third, with Final Gambit fourth on his dirt debut, and Owen Almighty holding on for fifth. Meanwhile, six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert returned to the race with Citizen Bull, who faded to finish more than 33 lengths behind the winner.
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Sovereignty is out of the Bernardini mare Crowned, his pedigree blending speed and stamina. The victory improved his record to three wins and two seconds from six starts, with earnings of US$3,672,800.
While connections savoured their Derby glory, attention will soon turn to whether Sovereignty contests the Gr.1 Preakness Stakes in two weeks as the second leg of the American Triple Crown. Mott appeared open to the possibility, though the colt's health and energy will determine his participation as connections dream of joining the elite group of 13 horses to have completed the Triple Crown sweep.
The Derby triumph completed a remarkable weekend for Godolphin, who also celebrated victory with Ruling Court in the Gr.1 Two Thousand Guineas.