An ugly, muddy day at Churchill Downs was a picture-perfect one for Sovereignty.
A bit of an afterthought behind favorites Journalism and Sandman, Sovereignty found himself locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Journalism in the final stretch and won comfortably, rocketing over the finish line with a time of 2:02.31.
Sovereignty wasn't among the leaders most of the way, reserving one final burst to pull ahead of the pack and give trainer Bill Mott his second career Kentucky Derby win. Mott previously won in 2019 with Country House, but he didn't see his horse cross the finish line first — Maximum Security was initially declared the winner but was disqualified shortly after the race.
The win Saturday was the first Kentucky Derby victory for Venezuelan-born trainer Junior Alvarado, who was making his sixth appearance in the iconic race.
MORE: The best, worst outfits from 2025 Kentucky Derby
For Sovereignty, the question of the Triple Crown could hover over the next two weeks. Mott was non-committal about running him in the Preakness Stakes after Saturday's race, but Sovereignty would be among the favorites to win in Baltimore and move one step closer to history if he gets the green light.
The Sporting News tracked live race updates and results from the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Check out the full results from the "Run for the Roses" below.
JUMP TO: Kentucky Derby live updates | Pre-race results | How to watch
Who won the Kentucky Derby in 2025?
Sovereignty outlasted favored Journalism in the Kentucky Derby, pulling ahead during the final stretch on a sloppy Churchill Downs track. It's the second career Kentucky Derby win for trainer Bill Mott and first for jockey Junior Alvarado.
SOVEREIGNTY RULES THE 151st KENTUCKY DERBY! 🌹 #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/WfLBrG4Zv4
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 3, 2025
Kentucky Derby finish order
| Order | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Sovereignty | 9-1 |
| 2 | Journalism | 7-2 |
| 3 | Baeza | 14-1 |
| 4 | Final Gambit | 17-1 |
| 5 | Owen Almighty | 40-1 |
| 6 | Burnham Square | 18-1 |
| 7 | Sandman | 5-1 |
| 8 | East Avenue | 39-1 |
| 9 | Chunk of Gold | 27-1 |
| 10 | Tiztastic | 23-1 |
| 11 | Coal Battle | 26-1 |
| 12 | Luxor Cafe | 8-1 |
| 13 | Neoequos | 40-1 |
| 14 | Publisher | 31-1 |
| 15 | Citizen Bull | 13-1 |
| 16 | American Promise | 11-1 |
| 17 | Render Judgment | 19-1 |
| 18 | Flying Mohawk | 26-1 |
| 19 | Admire Daytona | 40-1 |
MORE: Fast facts to know before picking Kentucky Derby winner
Kentucky Derby live updates, highlights, results from 2025 race
(All times Eastern)
7:10 p.m. — It's the second career Kentucky Derby win for trainer Bill Mott and first for Venezuelan-born jockey Junior Alvarado.
7:07 p.m. — SOVEREIGNTY WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY! He pulls away from Journalism and wins a thrilling race on a sloppy Churchill Downs track!
7:06 p.m. — Journalism and Sovereignty lead the pack!
7:06 p.m. — American Promise is right there with Citizen Bull.
7:05 p.m. — Citizen Bull has the early lead, but there isn't much separation to be found yet.
7:04 p.m. — The last few horses are entering the gate...here we go.
6:59 p.m. — We're just three minutes away from start time as the horses make their way over. Journalism remains the favorite, but not a heavy one.
6:50 p.m. — The horses are coming out onto the track as "My Old Kentucky Home" is performed.
6:46 p.m. — Simone Biles delivers the customary "Riders up!" call.
6:40 p.m. — We're about 20 minutes from the start of the race. The conditions remain muddy at Churchill Downs, though they're not dealing with any significant rain right now.
6:22 p.m. — The horses have started walking over. Still about 40 minutes until start time.
6:08 p.m. — We are close to 50 minutes until the start of the Kentucky Derby, and some of the horses are already on the move.
6:00 p.m. — Journalism remains the favorite at 7-2, followed by Sandman (5-1), Luxor Cafe (8-1) and Sovereignty (9-1). Neoequos (39-1), Admire Daytona (39-1) and East Avenue (39-1) have the most distant odds.
5:45 p.m. — Spirit of St. Louis wins the Old Forester Turf Classic! The Kentucky Derby is next up in more than an hour.
Spirit of St Louis closes strong under @jockeyfranco to win the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic for trainer Chad Brown! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/c0PCGx3wrj
5:33 p.m. — The broadcast reports the skies are darkening again at Churchill Downs as some showers move back into the area.
5:15 p.m. — Free agent QB Aaron Rodgers is in the building!
NBC finds Aaron Rodgers at the Kentucky Derby. #NFL pic.twitter.com/t9r4qS5t2a
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 3, 2025
5:12 p.m. — Grace Potter is performing the national anthem at Churchill Downs as post time inches closer.
4:56 p.m. — Kopion rockets ahead and wins the Derby City Distaff!
Kopion is all class in the Derby City Distaff!⭐️
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
A star on the rise, she quickens up impressively to claim Grade One honours at @ChurchillDowns!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/boZ9PtOc4b
4:30 p.m. — An NBA crossover: Carmelo Anthony announced on the Kentucky Derby broadcast that he is joining NBC's new coverage team for the NBA next season.
4:10 p.m. — Favorite Zulu Kingdom pulls ahead late to win the American Turf Classic!
Zulu Kingdom is an impressive winner of the Grade One American Turf Stakes!🇺🇸
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
Test Score and New Century fly home late but they can't catch the runaway winner at @ChurchillDowns! pic.twitter.com/KPLDYjTuKq
4:03 p.m. — The last of the rain, at least for a couple hours, is passing through Louisville right now. The forecast for the next few hours is much clearer.
3:30 p.m. — Mindframe wins the Churchill Downs! That's a victory for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Only three more undercard races remain before the derby.
Mindframe gets up in time to take the G1 Churchill Downs! 🌟@iradortiz on board for trainer Todd Pletcher! 🏇
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ufWk4OsR25
3:20 p.m. — Mike Tirico has stepped away from NBC's coverage due to feeling "under the weather." He was replaced by Ahmed Fareed. It's unclear whether Tirico is planning to return before the race.
2:42 p.m. — Think Big takes the Twin Spires Turf Sprint!
High profile winner for @_benacurtis at @ChurchillDowns!🇺🇸
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
Think Big comes home powerfully to strike in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes! pic.twitter.com/GJKfnD0mav
2:30 p.m. — Another batch of rain is about to roll through Louisville, but there should be some brief clearing in the evening.
2:15 p.m. — Among the early sports figures spotted at Churchill Downs: Titans QB Will Levis, Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson, former NBA coach Avery Johnson and NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
2:00 p.m. — Macho Music wins the Pat Day Mile!
Macho Music takes them all the way in the Grade Two Pat Day Mile Stakes!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/apOYczAjO2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
1:40 p.m. — Jockey Luis Saez wins again as the appropriately named Simply in Front wins the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.
Simply in Front was in front in the G2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at 15/1! 💣
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
Another win under the TwinSpires for jockey @luissaezpty. She is trained by Eddie Kenneally! 🌟
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Ew9py1w3mt
1:22 p.m. — Liberal Arts, jockeyed by Luis Saez and trained by Brad Cox, won the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes in a glimpse of what the track conditions are looking like this afternoon.
Liberal Arts gets up just in time to win the 4th running of the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes presented by L&N Federal Credit Union! Luis Saez and Brad Cox teamed up for the victory. pic.twitter.com/WreI2RRLAE
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025
1:15 p.m. — Light rain is currently falling in Louisville, but there is hope for a break in the rain between 5-8 p.m. Follow along with all of the latest weather updates here.
Kentucky Derby pre-race results
| Race No. | Post time (ET) | Winner |
| 1 (Maiden Special Weight) | 11 a.m. | Fountain Lake |
| 2 (Allowance Optional Claimer) | 11:32 a.m. | Lemon Muffin |
| 3 (Allowance Race) | 12:05 p.m. | Goal Oriented |
| 4 (Knicks Go Stakes) | 12:38 p.m. | Liberal Arts |
| 5 (Churchill Distaff Turf Mile) | 1:12 p.m. | Simply in Front |
| 6 (Pat Day Mile) | 1:53 p.m. | Macho Music |
| 7 (Turf Sprint) | 2:38 p.m. | Think Big |
| 8 (Churchill Downs) | 3:23 p.m. | Mindframe |
| 9 (American Turf) | 4:06 p.m. | Zulu Kingdom |
| 10 (Derby City Distaff) | 4:50 p.m. | Kopion |
| 11 (Old Forester Turf Classic) | 5:39 p.m. | Spirit of St. Louis |
2025 Kentucky Derby post time
- Date: Saturday, May 3
- Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 3. Eleven other races lead into the Run for the Roses (including the Old Forester Turf Classic), starting at 11 a.m. ET.
STREAM: Watch the Kentucky Derby live with Fubo (free trial)
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock | NBC Sports app | Fubo
NBC's coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock and USA Network, nearly seven hours before the post time for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The coverage will shift to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET.
There will be other races throughout the day at Churchill Downs, starting in the morning.
Viewers can stream the Kentucky Derby on Peacock, the NBC Sports App, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
MORE KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS:
- When was the last Triple Crown winner?
- Biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history
- How mint juleps became the official Kentucky Derby cocktail
Kentucky Derby post positions 2025
The Kentucky Derby draw was held on Saturday, April 26. Here's a look at how the horses will line up and who has the best odds to win the Derby.
| Post Position | Horse | Odds |
| 1. | Citizen Bull | 14-1 |
| 2. | Neoequos | 50-1 |
| 3. | Final Gambit | 16-1 |
| 5. | American Promise | 13-1 |
| 6. | Admire Daytona | 41-1 |
| 7. | Luxor Cafe | 11-1 |
| 8. | Journalism | 7-2 |
| 9. | Burnham Square | 16-1 |
| 11. | Flying Mohawk | 33-1 |
| 12. | East Avenue | 36-1 |
| 13. | Publisher | 27-1 |
| 14. | Tiztastic | 18-1 |
| 15. | Render Judgment | 14-1 |
| 16. | Coal Battle | 27-1 |
| 17. | Sandman | 9-2 |
| 18. | Sovereignty | 9-1 |
| 19. | Chunk of Gold | 29-1 |
| 20. | Owen Almighty | 40-1 |
| 21. | Baeza | 19-1 |
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