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KSR Today: Sovereignty wins 151st Kentucky Derby

Adam Luckettby: Adam Luckett05/04/25adamluckettksr
Kelly Alvarado captures the moment as her husband, jockey Junior Alvarado, tosses roses into the air in the Winner's Circle as their children celebrate behind him after he and Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Kelly Alvarado captures the moment as her husband, jockey Junior Alvarado, tosses roses into the air in the Winner's Circle as their children celebrate behind him after he and Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The biggest sports spectacle in the Bluegrass State has come and gone. Despite the sloppy track at Churchill Downs, the biggest day in horse racing did not disappoint. It even created a very fun ending.

Sovereignty and Journalism went head-to-head down the stretch to create quite the finish in the 151st Kentucky Derby.

Sovereignty (7/1) took home the $3.1 million purse with jockey Junior Alvarado on the ride. Long-time trainer Bill Mott logged his second career Derby win. Mott’s Country House won as a 30/1 long shot in 2019. Owners Godolphin recorded their first ever win in the Kentucky Derby.

“I am really thrilled and honored,” said Mott. “Not only myself, but a lot of us owe him a lot for keeping Godolphin going. And the breeding operation that they’ve got going on, Michael Banahan does a great job. Dan Pride (COO of Godolphin USA). It’s just a solid organization.”

The payouts were not bad for a couple of favorites finishing 1-2 in a race that took 2:02.31.

  • Exacta ($2): (18-8) $48.32
  • Trifecta ($1): (18-8-21) $231.12
  • Superfecta ($1): (18-8-21-3) $1,682.27

Now the focus shifts to the Preakness Stakes where Sovereignty will attempt to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. That race will take place on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. We should expect Sovereignty and Journalism to meet on the backstretch once again in the near future.

Order of finish

  1. Sovereignty (7/1)
  2. Journalism (3/1)
  3. Baeza (13/1)
  4. Final Gambit (17/1)
  5. Owen Almighty (40/1)
  6. Citizen Bull (13/1)
  7. Neoequos (42/1)
  8. American Promise (12/1)
  9. Admire Daytona (42/1)
  10. Luxor Cafe (8/1)
  11. Burnham Square (19/1)
  12. Flying Mohawk (28/1)
  13. East Avenue (41/1)
  14. Publisher (33/1)
  15. Tiztastic (24/1)
  16. Render Judgment (20/1)
  17. Coal Battle (28/1)
  18. Sandman (5/1)
  19. Chunk of Gold (29/1)

Kentucky alums attend the Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest sporting event in the Bluegrass State every year. For one weekend in May, Churchill Downs is the center of the sports universe. That means numerous celebrities always come to town to take in the event. Carmelo Anthony, Simone Biles, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and Livvy Dunne were some of the biggest stars at this year’s event.

But there was also some heavy Kentucky flavor. Mark Pope, Trent Noah, Wan’Dale Robinson, Will Levis, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Kenny Walker all were on the scene. Pope even made his way into the jockey room.

Via Lyndsey Gough

Bat Cats drop series to Mississippi State

Kentucky baseball entered this weekend’s SEC series on a bit of a hot streak. Nick Mingione’s club had won consecutive series against Tennessee and South Carolina as they were inching towards at-large lock status for the NCAA Tournament. But things have not gone well this week.

The Bat Cats (25-19, 10-13) have now lost three consecutive games after this week started with a mid-week loss to WKU. Mississippi State went 2-0 in a double-header at Dudy-Noble Field on Saturday. The Bulldogs — win an interim head coach — pulled away for a 14-4 win in the first game before walking it off in the 11th inning for a 6-5 win in the second game to claim the series in Starkville.

The Cats will try to salvage the final game of the series against the Bulldogs on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Game 7 SZN

May also brings us what many consider the best two words in sports: Game 7. James Harden added another ugly loss to his Game 7 resume as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers in a long series with a 120-101 blowout victory. The No. 4 seed — with an interim head coach — has advanced to face No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals.

On the ice, things got a lot more interesting. Trailing 2-0 in the third period, the Dallas Stars scored four consecutive goals with Mikko Rantanen recording a hat trick on an empty net to finish a thrilling third period.

The fun will continue on Sunday with both the NBA and NHL playing one more Game 7. There will also be a shift to the next round with one NBA series set to begin in the Eastern Conference.

  • Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 1) | 6:00 p.m. ET | TNT
  • St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets (Game 7) | 7:00 p.m. ET | TBS
  • Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets (Game 7) | 8:30 p.m. | TNT

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2025-09-15