Godolphin and Bill Mott’s loyalty to Junior Alvarado paid off in historic Kentucky Derby victory with Sovereignty, marking a significant milestone in their long-standing professional relationship.
When Alvarado fractured his shoulder blade in a March 23 spill at Gulfstream, missing the Florida Derby, Mott faced a critical decision. Manny Franco capably filled in, guiding Sovereignty to a second-place finish in the important Derby prep race.
The injury created multiple options for Mott. He could have retained Franco or pursued top jockeys Flavien Prat or Irad Ortiz Jr., neither of whom had secured premier Derby mounts.
Instead, Mott returned to Alvarado once it became clear he would heal in time — a decision that proved both loyal and strategically sound.
“It was great having Junior back on him,” said Michael Banahan, director of USA bloodstock for Godolphin Stable. “The confidence that Junior has in a horse, especially a horse coming from off the pace like that and knowing him so well, I think helped him get there today as well because he knows that he’s going to be there for him. Manny Franco gave him a great ride down in Florida. But he probably wouldn’t have had the confidence in him that Junior had because he knows him so well.”
Alvarado’s journey to Derby glory began far from Churchill Downs. The Venezuelan jockey, a graduate of his country’s jockey academy, arrived in the United States in 2007. He quickly established himself, becoming the leading rider at Arlington Park in 2009 and 2010, capturing his first Grade I in the Beverly D. Stakes aboard Eclair de Lune.
His transition to New York in 2011 marked a new chapter, winning 162 races his first full year and 183 in 2012. Despite these accomplishments, Alvarado often remained overshadowed by the colony’s bigger names. His Kentucky Derby opportunities were limited — he entered Saturday’s race 0-for-5 in previous attempts.
Hall of Fame trainer Mott recognized qualities in Alvarado that others missed. Their partnership began in 2011 with Alvarado winning at a remarkable 35% clip (7-for-20) in their initial collaborations. The relationship evolved into something rare in modern racing — a consistent jockey-trainer team.
“I wasn’t probably completely aware at the time of who I was riding for,” Alvarado told the Daily Racing Form. “Maybe a few months you start riding for him and people are saying, ‘Oh, you’re riding for Mott, you’re riding for Mott!'”
Their partnership has produced impressive statistics: 416 winners from 2,339 mounts (17.8%), including 46 graded stakes victories and 16 Grade I triumphs. Before the Derby, Alvarado was perhaps best known as the regular rider for Cody’s Wish, the 2023 Horse of the Year, piloting him to consecutive Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victories and the 2023 Metropolitan Handicap.
The shoulder injury threatened to derail Alvarado’s Derby opportunity with Sovereignty, a moment he described as heartbreaking.
“I thought that was it. I knew that was this horse. All along I knew it was the right horse for me to win the Derby,” Alvarado said. “But once again, I got the call the next day when I get out of the hospital. Mr. Mott said, ‘Listen, you do what you need to do, and you’ll get to ride on the horse back.’ I think that gave me a peace of mind and to do what I needed to do the right way to recover properly.”
He added: “You don’t get that in the business often, because this is the nature of the business. Someone else gets to ride the horse. You ride him good, and you get to keep him.”
Immediately after crossing the finish line, Alvarado acknowledged the special relationship with his trainer in an NBC interview with Donna Brothers: “If I could win with anyone, it would be Mr. Mott. We’ve been a team for a while. It’s like a dream come true to have it come with him and the Godolphin team.”
Mott echoed those sentiments post-race: “My regular rider, Junior Alvarado, I think it made that special. I think it makes it special for both of us.”
While Alvarado may not capture riding titles or Eclipse Award consideration this year, his partnership with Mott demonstrates the value of loyalty and consistency in racing’s high-pressure environment.
Preakness Decision Pending
Mott remained noncommittal Sunday morning regarding Sovereignty’s participation in the Preakness Stakes.
“We’ve got to consider all options with him,” Mott said. “We certainly respect the Triple Crown and what it means, but we’re not dead set on it. We’ll have to let the horse tell us how he’s doing in the next little while and then we’ll go from there.”
The trainer’s methodical approach suggests a Preakness start remains uncertain. Mott typically prioritizes his horses’ well-being over racing schedules, making a two-week turnaround questionable despite the Triple Crown implications.
This situation highlights ongoing industry discussions about potentially restructuring the Triple Crown schedule to allow more recovery time between races, particularly between the Derby and Preakness.
Derby Betting Anomalies
The Kentucky Derby continues producing puzzling betting patterns, particularly from casual fans who participate annually. The search for longshot winners like Mine That Bird or Rich Strike appears to influence wagering decisions.
This phenomenon helps explain why Render Judgment, who finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes, went off at 20-1, while Blue Grass winner Burnham Square was available at 19-1 — an inconsistency that reflects the unique betting dynamics of America’s most famous horse race.
