The 2025 Derby was won by a true closer in Sovereignty, but the race had an influx of early pace courtesy of Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull, who set the opening quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds and the opening half-mile in 46.23 seconds. t was 1:10.78 for the first three-fourths of a mile.

Junior Alvarado was given a $62,000 fine and suspended for two upcoming racing days for striking Sovereignty eight times with his riding crop during the Kentucky Derby.