There’s so much to draw inspiration from in the world of horse racing. For sure, whether it’s a comeback win or a longshot pulling off some surprising moves on the racetrack. Fans have experienced everything. But, you won’t believe this! The jockey of Sovereignty, the winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby, had a story that was quite similar. The three-year-old colt snagged the G1 win at Churchill Downs, tackling some tough, muddy track conditions along the way. Sovereignty was leading the pack with 5-1 odds as we headed into the final stretch, looking to take down the 3-1 favorite, Journalism, who placed second.

Baeza, who joined the race a bit later, ended up snagging third place, and Final Gambit came in fourth. It was quite a spectacular show! And just like the race, the story of Sovereignty’s jockey, Junior Alvarado, is also something really special. Cue the flashback to what happened, the jockey shared, “I was just like devastated. But, you know, I got a call from Mr. Mott, like the day after I left the hospital, and he said to me, ‘Listen, when you get back, you’ll get to ride all your horses back.'”

According to a report by America’s Best Racing, Alvarado faced a significant setback when he fractured his shoulder blade. This injury kept him out during Sovereignty’s run in the Florida Derby, a race where Alvarado had been the go-to rider before. Alvarado’s spirit was crushed by the timing and the consequences of the injury that might affect his career, but then he got an encouraging call from trainer Bill Mott right after he got out of the hospital.

“‘You get to ride Sovereignty back. So, you do what you need to do.’ And that gave me peace of mind, and I think that actually helped me to do what I needed to do just the right way, so I can heal up quick. And I just did that,” the jockey expressed. Getting this vote of confidence really put Alvarado at ease and gave him the motivation he needed to concentrate on his recovery. He dedicated himself to his rehabilitation and was back to racing just a few weeks later.

This really underscores the bond of trust between the jockey and the trainer. In the end, they ended up bagging one Run for the Roses this year. But, there’s an even bigger challenge that lies ahead for the colt.

Alvarado Junior didn’t just credit Bill Mott for playing a crucial role in his road to recovery. He also extended his gratitude towards his family, who along with Mott, took a leap of much needed faith that aided Alvarado to pursue the victory that he coveted. While speaking about the driving force that made him chase excellence, he said, “I think especially I want to do it for my family, since they’ve been with me through the ups and downs, a lot of injuries and I just want to do it for them, too, so they get the happiness that I get when I win a race.”

Now that the Kentucky Derby win is nicely tucked away in their storied list of accolades for Sovereignty, Alvarado Junior and Bill Motts, we can’t help but not ask what lies ahead for Sovereignty. With one leg of the Triple Crown placed snugly under their belt, will they pursue the elusive title in its remaining legs?

Next destination for Sovereignty

Even though the Kentucky Derby has wrapped up, the season is still going strong! There are plenty of races to keep an eye on. Ed DeRosa shared that “Bill Mott noncommittal on Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty’s Preakness Stakes participation. ‘The pressure is on now,’ he said. ‘If we didn’t win, we wouldn’t feel an obligation, but we’ll huddle up [with Godolphin] and do the right thing for the horse.’” Looks like Sovereignty’s trainer, Bill Mott, is already gearing up for the next challenge with his three-year-old colt.

The trainer’s statement really highlights the thoughtfulness that goes into deciding if Sovereignty will participate in the upcoming Preakness Stakes. Absolutely, he’s aiming for the second leg of the American Triple Crown. So, Mott mentioned that this Kentucky Derby has really boosted hopes for the Godolphin horse. With some added pressure on everyone involved with the colt, they’ll be making some important decisions about his future in the sport soon.

Also, the trainer pointed out how important it is to check in on the horse’s health. He mentioned that he and the Godolphin group will closely monitor and assess Sovereignty’s condition and preparedness before making a decision about the Preakness. Well, guess what? we’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store for the winning horse.