Kentucky Derby

11 stories capture the action on the track at the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

Sovereignty’s unexpected win at the 2025 Kentucky Derby is richly detailed in these articles. The race saw Sovereignty, guided by Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott, seize victory against favorite Journalism on a sloppy Churchill Downs track.

Dig into key facts about Sovereignty’s pedigree, Godolphin’s long-awaited Derby breakthrough, and the trainer’s cautious approach to the Preakness following the colt’s hard-fought run.

These reads also shine a spotlight on Alvarado’s determined comeback from injury and the significant $3.1 million purse that made Derby Day historic.

Sovereignty with jockey Junior Alvarado up (18) leads the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: SOVEREIGNTY WINS 2025 KENTUCKY DERBY FOR BILL MOTT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

Sovereignty came through the slop and passed the favorite in the stretch run to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby. | Published May 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

The field rounds the first turn during the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Edward Marlowe

NO. 2: LIVE UPDATES: A 7-1 SHOT WINS THE 151ST KENTUCKY DERBY

Follow Lexington Herald-Leader writers and photographers and others at the track for coverage of Saturday’s 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. | Published May 3, 2025 | Read Full Story

Sovereignty wins the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 3: WHO IS SOVEREIGNTY? MEET THE 2025 KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER WITH THESE FAST FACTS

Who won the 2025 Kentucky Derby? What to know about the winning horse. | Published May 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Kentucky Derby 151 won by Sovereignty with Junior Alvarado up, trained by Bill Mott, Saturday, May 03, 2025 at the Churchill Downs in Louisville. By Jonathan Palmer

NO. 4: SOVEREIGNTY GOES BEYOND A TRAINER’S WILDEST DREAMS BY WINNING KENTUCKY DERBY 151

With Junior Alvarado aboard, Sovereignty wins the Kentucky Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado up wins the 151th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Down, in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Bryan Woolston

NO. 5: GODOLPHIN WINS ITS FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM SEATTLE SLEW

On its 13th try, the global racing organization Godolphin finally wins the Kentucky Derby. | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Sovereignty is seen with the blanket of red roses outside of his stall Sunday, May 4, 2025, the morning after winning the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. By Grace Hollars

NO. 6: SOVEREIGNTY’S CONNECTIONS SOAK IN KENTUCKY DERBY WIN, BUT UNDECIDED ON PREAKNESS

Trainer Bill Mott would not commit Sunday as to whether Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will run in the Preakness. | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

The 19-horse field heads toward the first turn during the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Bryan Woolston

NO. 7: THE FAVORITE DIDN’T WIN THE KY DERBY AGAIN. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND SOVEREIGNTY

How did Bob Baffert’s horse finish in the Kentucky Derby? What about the other favorites? | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Hale

Sovereignty with jockey Junior Alvarado up (18) passes Journalism with jockey Umberto Rispoli up (8) in the final stretch to win Kentucky Derby 151 at Churchill Downs May 3, 2025. By Amy Wallot

NO. 8: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025 COMPLETE ORDER OF FINISH AND PAYOFFS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

The final official numbers from Saturday’s 151st Kentucky Derby horse race in Louisville. | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story

Sovereignty with jockey Junior Alvarado up (18), left, celebrates after winning the Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. By Dexter Simms

NO. 9: OUR BEST PHOTOS, VIDEOS FROM KY DERBY 2025: SOVEREIGNTY’S WIN, FASHION, CELEBRITIES

Relive all the pageantry and spectacle of the 2025 Kentucky Derby with our best photos and videos from Churchill Downs. | Published May 3, 2025 | Read Full Story

Junior Alvarado, aboard Sovereignty, reacts after winning the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 3, 2025. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 10: JUNIOR ALVARADO, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE JOCKEY, PUTS HIS NAME INTO KY DERBY LORE

Five weeks after fracturing his shoulder, Alvarado and a hard-charging Sovereignty run down favored Journalism to win the 151st Kentucky Derby | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mark Story

Sovereignty and Junior Alvarado won the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday May 3, 2025 in Louisville, Ky. By Mark Mahan

NO. 11: HOW MUCH MONEY DOES 2025’S KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER SOVEREIGNTY GET? SEE THE PURSE

The prize was increased in 2024. | Published May 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jackie Starkey

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.