Sovereignty outduels Journalism to win 151st Kentucky Derby - ESPN

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sovereignty gave trainer Bill Mott a second Kentucky Derby victory. This time there was no doubt about it and no asterisk.

Sovereignty outdueled 3-1 favorite Journalism down the stretch to win the 151st Derby in the slop on Saturday, snapping an 0-for-13 skid by owner Godolphin.

Mott won his first Derby in 2019, also run on a sloppy track, when Country House was elevated to first after Maximum Security crossed the finish line first and was disqualified during a 22-minute delay.

It took a few minutes for Saturday's results to be made official while the stewards sorted out a photo for second and reviewed a traffic-choked start.

Mott knew all the while who earned the garland of red roses.

«This one got there the right way,» the Hall of Fame trainer said. «I mean, he's done well, he's a great horse, he comes from a great organization and I can't say enough about the horse and the organization that started him out and made this happen.»

Godolphin is the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It was quite a weekend for the sheikh. His filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and earlier Saturday, Ruling Court — a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify — won the 2,000 Guineas in Britain.

«I've had quite a long relationship with the Godolphin team and the man behind the Godolphin operation, Sheikh Mohammed,» Mott said. «I'm just honored.»

Sovereignty, also bred by the sheikh, won by 1½ lengths and splashed through 1¼ miles in 2:02.31. He paid $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds.

The victory was worth $3.1 million from the $5 million purse.

«It's great,» Mott said. «I think it will take a little while to sink in.»

Journalism didn't have the cleanest of trips in the 19-horse field,