The muddy track, described as having a 'peanut-butter-like consistency,' tested horses unaccustomed to wet surfaces. Thirteen contenders, including Journalism, lacked prior muddy-track experience, which may have impacted their performance. Sovereignty's ability to adapt to these conditions was likely a decisive factor[5][4][1].

Sovereignty earned $3.1 million from the $5 million total purse. Journalism received $1 million for second place, Baeza $500,000 for third, Final Gambit $250,000 for fourth, and Owen Almighty $150,000 for fifth[1][2].

This marks Bill Mott's second Kentucky Derby victory, reinforcing his legacy in thoroughbred racing. For Godolphin, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the win adds to a successful weekend, highlighting their global racing dominance[1][5].

While the summary notes Baffert's return post-suspension, none of his horses achieved top placements. The search results do not specify his entries, suggesting their performance did not significantly influence the race's outcome compared to favorites like Journalism[1][2][5].

While Manuel Franco was noted as hospitalized in one report, Junior Alvarado rode Sovereignty to victory. The summary mentions Alvarado's crucial role, though his injury status isn't detailed in cited sources[5][1].