Horse Profile: Sovereignty

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Sovereignty closed to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths over Journalism. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Into Mischief bay clipped heels with a rival and traveled in 16th-of-19 early under Junior Alvarado, but steadily made up ground over the sloppy and sealed going. Sovereignty passed the favored Journalism in deep stretch and carried the signature Godolphin blue silks across the line 1 1/2 lengths in front for the organization’s first Derby score. The final time of 2:02.31 registered a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sovereignty was making his second top-level attempt in the Derby off a 1 1/4-length second to Tappan Street in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March at Gulfstream Park, where that rival got a clear jump on him and prevailed. Sovereignty previously closed to win the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth there, and he also captured the Grade 3 Street Sense as a maiden in his third start as a juvenile at Churchill Downs.