Breaking from the far-outside 18th post, jockey Junior Alvarado skillfully guided Sovereignty through the mud-slicked track, waiting patiently until the final stretch to make their move. As the field thundered toward the finish, it seemed the favorite, Journalism, might hold on. But Sovereignty, nicknamed “Mr. Mud” for good reason, found a second wind. With every stride, he closed the gap, charging past Journalism in the final moments to win by a nose.
The crowd erupted. So did Larry Collmus, whose iconic voice painted the moment with excitement and grace.
“And here comes Sovereignty—charging hard on the outside! Journalism is clinging to the lead... but Sovereignty flies past—Sovereignty steals the Derby in the shadow of the wire!”
It was a masterful call, full of drama, precision, and passion—exactly what fans have come to expect from Collmus, who now has 15 Kentucky Derby broadcasts to his name. In just a few thrilling seconds, he captured not just the outcome, but the emotion of a dream come true.
Trainer Bill Mott, no stranger to Derby glory, called the performance “one of the finest I’ve ever witnessed,” while Alvarado, fighting back tears, said simply:
“He gave me everything. That’s the horse of a lifetime.”
With this breathtaking victory, Sovereignty now turns his sights to the Preakness Stakes on May 17, the next step on the path to the elusive Triple Crown. Only a handful of horses in history have claimed that honor, but if Derby day was any sign, this colt might just be one of them.
For now, racing fans will savor the magic of May 3, when courage, skill, and storytelling collided under the twin spires. And thanks to Larry Collmus’s unforgettable call, the moment will echo through time.
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